It is Friday, 32 degrees and, for final night, Elliot James Reay is stepping onstage for his All This To Say I Love You Tour at Omeara in London. The room is packed from wall to wall with people. Reay stands on stage which is modelled as a living room; it’s cozy, quaint and warm.
Reay appeared as though covered in a glossy varnish from the 50’s or 60’s, as if born in the wrong decade, impeccably dressed wearing a shimmering black shirt, red pants and hair gelled into position (very impressive hairspray skills). An image of perfection.
‘How we feeling London?’ — the crowds response left my ears buzzing, the excitement in the room was truly beautiful. When Reay’s first song ‘Daydreaming’ came to an end the communal swaying two-step stopped in sync.
Almost immediately, Reay picked up the pace, according to him it ‘feels a bit too slow, needs to be a bit faster’ and from there the next hour flew by. From the initial first note of ‘Boy In Love’ the screams were deafening, I felt like I was part of the prom scene in Grease and John Travolta had jumped on stage. I peeked around the crowd and saw the girl bopping next to me was dressed on theme head to toe in a retro dress with a back-combed up-do. The crowd was then introduced to his band Caleb and Harry, a lovely touch of friendly feel.
‘How many people have that person in life you keep coming back to — you can’t stay away from?’, another cheer, swoon and the audience were again locked in for ‘I Can’t Stay Away’.
A standout moment was Reay’s new song, which was offered as ‘a gift from me to you’ before graceful croon introduced ‘He Doesn’t Make Me Cry’ — ‘She looks like she’s doing well / I can’t say the same / She’s fallen in love with a new guy / I can tell by the look in her eyes / She’s moving on and now I wonder why‘. You could hear a pin drop, the silence of the crowd was haunting as if every audience member was recalling that moment of heartbreak. Reay has an ability to transport an audience through a collection of pop-infused rock n roll to smooth, 50’s-60’s ballads containing riffs of emotion that leave a room swooning. Elliot James Reay is challenging the modern music industry with a sound that is new to younger generations and nostalgic to older audiences, he appeals to all.
The audience were left begging for more, wanting to be part of the set and as the lights went pink Reay allowed them this privilege with ‘Sweetness’. ‘All right London I want you to sing it to me’, and only slightly off pitch the choir began ‘Sweetness, you are the sweetest / Thing dancing on my tongue / Like a song I’vе not heard before‘. Next Reay alerted the room of the sad news that this was his last night of the tour (cue the screaming battle). In honour of this news, another treat was given — a second new song ‘American Dream’. A ditty about ‘leaving home to try and find something greater. When you’ve been told your whole life is out there but realising that it’s actually all here and that you don’t need to be anywhere else’. Reay’s vocals cut deep using his mixture of tenor notes intertwined with falsetto beauties hypnotising the crowd with every lyric.
This was indeed Elliot James Reay’s stage, he commanded every moment with charisma and charm, he walked to the back, sat on the sofa as he began ‘Unchained Melody’ by Righteous Brothers, a song that was perfectly placed for his register and character, allowing him to hold notes as if it were his birth right. Naturally every jaw dropped and eyes welled.
Then, for a final flurry, the prop phone then rang, Reay grabbed his guitar and ‘Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin’ blasted through the speakers. The crowd mimicked lad culture involving the most respectful heckling I’ve heard, loud boisterous men complimenting and asking for more – rowdy and radiating positivity. The finale took the room home on a high as ‘I Think They Call This Love’ began and the crowd knew this was the end. All I wanted was a partner to waltz around the room with.
Elliot James Reay is captivating, he is a master of the stage with a voice like caramel. This 23 year old is swooning a generation and I have had his recent EP ‘All This To Say I Love You’ on repeat since it was first played — I suggest you go and do the same.
