He’s Only Getting Started: Sam Fender Rocks New York City on The People Watching Tour
Sam Fender performing in NYC. Photo: Ava Bandelli
Written by Ava Bandelli
When I told people, “I can’t go to the Blackout football game, I’m seeing Sam Fender,” I assumed they would know who he is. Fender has released three studio albums, including his newest album, People Watching, the fastest-selling album in the 21st century by a British artist, and many hit singles such as “Seventeen Going Under” and “Hypersonic Missiles.” So, I was shocked when most Rutgers students I spoke to tilted their heads at his name. Proof that, despite Fender’s popularity elsewhere, his fanbase is only getting started in the US.
As one of the most talented songwriters of this decade and a crusader alongside MJ Lendherman of the new wave of alternative music, Fender has received attention worldwide, selling out London Stadium and many venues across North America. When his tour had him slotted to perform at Terminal 5, a 3,000-capacity venue in New York, I knew I would never again get an opportunity like this.
To kick off the night, Fender performed “Angel in Lothian” from Seventeen Going Under. He then powered through the setlist, switching between songs from People Watching and Seventeen Going Under. While I’m not a die-hard Fender fan, I found myself belting out the lyrics to songs I didn’t even know I knew.
Fender’s use of saxophone and trumpet separates him from all others in the alternative game right now. His integration of instruments in most of his discography fosters his distinct sound. Still, to no surprise, just as Fender’s vocals had been spot-on, the band backing him was as well.
Fender’s artistry as a musician, beyond his orchestration of music, is demonstrated in his songwriting ability, capturing experiences and emotions relatable to his audience. In the song “Seventeen Going Under,” the last song before the encore, I, and many others, had tears running down our faces as we screamed the lyrics, “She cries on the floor in hunger, I’m seventeen going under.”
To close out the show, Fender played his breakout single “Hypersonic Missiles.” A song that teenage girls cried to in the bathroom at school, European boys blasted after winning a football game, and one that wrings nostalgic indie anthem energy from the belltops. I found myself caught between two strangers with our arms wrapped around each other, jumping up and down together, shouting the chorus in unison. The perfect end to the perfect show, and it’s just the beginning of The People Watching Tour and Sam Fender’s rise.
Tickets for the rest of the North American Tour can be found here.