Sam Fender continues the People Watching tour with a stop-off at St. James’ Park, which, at this point, feels inevitable. There was no chance he wouldn’t play his beloved club’s grounds, especially not after the success of the first outing two years ago. A feverish want for the working-class hero is still present, the man with roots in North Shields and the talented backing band are still sought after. But there are some small changes here, not just on stage where the performance is nearly identical to the tour last November, but outside the venue, with the £85 hoodies and the sour taste which comes from splashing out on a restricted view ticket for £80. There are changes in the waters for the Fender sound, and the artistic image he and the club he loves have moulded these last few years.
He can still put on a solid show – that much is clear. A sense of generally crowd-pleasing moments dominates what is a relatively compact, static set. But value is not found in the length of a set or the number of songs, but in how they are brought to life. When the highlight is a cover of The Boys Are Back in Town, a nice nod to Fender and the gang’s return home, there is perhaps a problem with the adaptation of these new songs to the stage. Some relatively lifeless filters dominate the screens behind Fender and the band, a shortcoming which does not match the ongoing passion and thrill he has for performing. Once more, the fever dream begins for the Hypersonic Missiles songwriter, who notes the title track of his first album is, still, sadly relevant. Those inspired and emotional moments, especially with Spit of You and Remember My Name, are offset by a hollow moment in the core image.
The black and white garb worn by so many is an inevitably nice touch for a home show, but when it begins overwhelming the music and its emotive value, there is trouble brewing. When any song can be preceded by chants for Dan Burn, irrespective of venue, that has Fender, and his music, shifting to a pastiche of the north, rather than a love for it. His music still has a strong sense of identity, something few pop artists can claim to hold. Crumbling Empire and Tyrants are two of the many magnificent tracks found on the People Watching album, and they have depths far beyond the occasional chant and mini mosh pit seen breaking out in the crowd below. There is a sense of being there not for the music, but the community spirit. The camaraderie which comes with the colour of a kit more than the choice of music on stage.
Still, the music remains strong, and this is a very slick set from Fender, filled with a few faces which fans may know. From a busker outside the stadium to Fender’s former guitar teacher, the set is filled with moments of generous thanks from the frontman. He is keen to reciprocate the love which got him to this stage of his career. Three nights at St. James’ Park is no small feat, and when he has the backing of solid songs like Getting Started and Spit of You, mixing well with what few tracks from People Watching Fender wishes to add. A stretch better than the tour preceding the album yet still promoting it, but still way off those early years, the moments which felt like a victory lap before the party truly started. A return to St. James’ Park is always a sweet experience, especially with a talent like Fender on stage, but with the unshifting image as a local lad with a love for his region and his club, there does not appear to be anything deeper. A homecoming show should fill you with that same passion as the artist, not a sense that you have had your fill of them.
