When it comes to Hunter Hayes and the UK, the feeling is
most definitely mutual.
Hunter Hayes has spoiled us in 2015 with three separate visits
and two full tours within the space of six months and one can safely assume
that, with the reception the 24 year old received and with sold out shows to
his name, another trip must surely be in the works. Hunter Hayes loves the UK
and we love him.
This Glasgow show at the O2 ABC (my personal favourite
venue) was more than double the size of the relatively teeny Oran Mor that he
played last May and like that show, it too was packed. This crowd was a little
different than the usual country crowd, with Hunter marketed as a crossover act
on these shores – although there were still many a familiar face that I
recognised. Though it may have had a influence on the crowd, his crossover
appeal had little effect on his set which still retained that country twang
that brought him into the spotlight.
Hunter admitted at the start of the show that he was having
some problems with his voice – understandable really, given that this was the
second last show of fairly intensive UK tour which followed immediately on from
touring the States this summer with Lady Antebellum – yet I will have to take
his word for it. Not once in his hour and a half, and typically energetic, set
would I have ever guessed that he was struggling – he’s just that good.
His set list was fairly similar to his May one but that’s
not a bad thing. The big hits, I Want
Crazy, Tattoo and Wanted went down a treat with the latter
a real standout moment of the show as the audience sang the chorus back to him
as he held the microphone out to us, a smile and look of awe on his face as he
took in some 1300 faces. Newer stuff such as 21 and Young and in Love
sound fantastic live too and his cover of Counting
Stars? Simply brilliant.
This young man is not only incredibly talented but also
incredibly humble – as shown by the respect and time he gives his band on stage
as well as the time he takes to meet fans before and after shows. This young man
has definitely got a very, very bright future and I really, really hope he continues
to share it this much with us.
