Leon Bridges, O2 ABC, Glasgow
Jonathan Geddes
Three stars
According to Leon Bridges, his only aim at this gig was to “make people happy”. Judging by the hollering the sharp-suited Texan received at the end of this show it was mission accomplished, although there was a lingering sense the evening could have hit greater heights.
Bridges is a record company’s dream, being a smooth and charming singer dishing up romantic old school soul. He opened in understated fashion, just him, a guitar and a backing singer, but even when his backing band appeared there was still a low-key nature to proceedings, with none of the flash that modern r n’ b usually carries.
His voice, however, has plenty of sizzle by itself. A lovely melodic croon that, understandably, caused more than a few of the crowd to audibly swoon, it also possessed an engaging fire on the night’s most danceable moments, from the catchy Smooth Sailin’ to the vintage rock n’ roll of Twistin’ & Groovin and it was truly powerhouse on stand-out track Shine, rich in gospel tone.
Yet although Bridges is a fine singer and likeable, albeit subdued, presence, the smoothness of his material sometimes waded into treacle. His slower songs, in particular, suffered from this, such as the pedestrian safeness of Lonely Road and the swaying Into My Arms. There is only so much romanticism a person can take, especially when accompanied by soul so pristine that it loses any real character, instead becoming lost in a homage to times gone by.
There were other strengths, though, notably tremendous sax playing throughout, and when Bridges stylishly started dancing on the set-closing Mississippi Kisses finally signs of an onstage personality emerged to go with the voice.
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