Concert Review: James Bay, ACC, March 18

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For all the talk about the big acts playing SXSW every year, it is actually the potential for an act to become a big act that is most exciting. Recent years have seen acts launch to mega stardom after SXSW stints (Sam Smith, Bastille, Haim all come to mind) and so it is this search that is one of the most exciting things about SXSW.

James Bay has the chance to be one of these people.

A singer-songwriter from the UK, Bay’s most recent single Hold Back the River has already made strides overseas and he is now primped and proper to take over stateside. After witnessing Bay’s set at the Austin Conference Center, it’s easy to see why he’s one of the artists pegged for the big time.

Having already opened for Hozier all across the Stateside, Bay has already developed (or maybe always had) a charismatic, low key presence on stage. It’s a very welcoming warmth and sets the right atmosphere for his heartfelt and soulful folkish songs. The music for most part, is impressive. The singles have a nice hook and Bay has the vocal chops. It is still however a guy with a guitar singing love tracks, so it’ll always have that “purchased at Starbucks” vibe, which is all fine and dandy, because that is a very successful career decision.

Posted on by Ricky in South By Southwest

About Ricky

Britpop lovin Chinaman, consumer of all things irrelevant. Toronto Raptors fan.