Live
Tom Walker by Candlelight
Hackney Church
26 March 2025 (gig)
4 d
There is something very appropriate about the location for Tom Walker tonight. It's a church, and churches have congregations, and congregations are communities of like minded people. People who gather together, who sing together, who feel together and belong together.
And that's what this audience is. Its a community of likeminded people, brought together by a charismatic leader for a shared experience. And Tom Walker is definitely preaching to the converted. And he's definitely charismatic. He engages with the audience between songs, he tells stories, he jokes, he talks about the Barry's. He makes us welcome, he invites us in.
The set itself is atmospheric. Just Tom, his voice, his guitar, his pianist, his piano. Surrounded by flickering candles, the lights casting shadows on the golden alter behind him. And by God his voice is powerful, filling the space, holding and moving the audience.
Its a dramatic experience. At times genuinely moving; the call and response for "Burn", the audience singing-along to "Just you and I" (they know ALL the words), and the heartbreaking "Lifeline". Genuinely tear inducing.
Above all, its a good night. We have the concept of good, better and best. At his best, the songs and voice are incredible; a perfect match of a superb voice, delivery, and good song writing. That's the best.
At times the song-writing doesn't match the vocal ability; it's not filler, but a lesser vocalist couldn't make it work. But that's still good, and the contrast makes the peaks even more thrilling.
He's a good guy, Tom Walker. He comes across that way. He loves his wife, he's grateful for his audience. He writes nice music that's appreciated by nice people. He drives his own tour van. He's not the egotistical rockstar. He doesn't have an edge.
And you know what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Arguably, in this world we need more nice. Because nice is good, and being good makes people happy, and nice guys should win.
And that's what this audience is. Its a community of likeminded people, brought together by a charismatic leader for a shared experience. And Tom Walker is definitely preaching to the converted. And he's definitely charismatic. He engages with the audience between songs, he tells stories, he jokes, he talks about the Barry's. He makes us welcome, he invites us in.
Its a dramatic experience. At times genuinely moving; the call and response for "Burn", the audience singing-along to "Just you and I" (they know ALL the words), and the heartbreaking "Lifeline". Genuinely tear inducing.
Above all, its a good night. We have the concept of good, better and best. At his best, the songs and voice are incredible; a perfect match of a superb voice, delivery, and good song writing. That's the best.
At times the song-writing doesn't match the vocal ability; it's not filler, but a lesser vocalist couldn't make it work. But that's still good, and the contrast makes the peaks even more thrilling.
He's a good guy, Tom Walker. He comes across that way. He loves his wife, he's grateful for his audience. He writes nice music that's appreciated by nice people. He drives his own tour van. He's not the egotistical rockstar. He doesn't have an edge.
And you know what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Arguably, in this world we need more nice. Because nice is good, and being good makes people happy, and nice guys should win.
