Lewis Capaldi, Sneaky Pete's, review: heartbreak and haemorrhoids in this intimate live-streamed show
In another world, Lewis Capaldi would have just rounded out his mammoth, global debut album tour with two very sold-out gigs at London’s O2 Arena. Instead of playing his soaring radio anthems of misery and loss to tens of thousands of fans, Capaldi has spent the past few months at home writing new music and wasting time on social media. I can relate to exactly half of that. He was going to go out this weekend to celebrate his 24th birthday but a local lockdown has scuppered that plan. All the bars have been forced to close so back online we go.
Partnering with Amazon Music and broadcast via streaming channel Twitch, Capaldi has returned to where it all began for him. Broadcast live from Edinburgh’s little club venue Sneaky Pete’s, this homecoming gig for the Scottish star is raising funds for the Music Venue Trust, the organisation behind the #SaveOurVenues campaign that looks to protect the hundreds of grassroots venues where performers cut their teeth.
Capaldi last played Sneaky Pete’s three years ago to a capacity crowd of 100. Between then and now though, he’s become the unlikeliest pop star around. His soppy debut album Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent was the biggest selling album of 2019 and unless Adele releases something before Christmas, it’ll do the same again this year. He’s picked up Brit Awards, broken America and become an internet sensation thanks to his puerile humour alongside an inability to take anything seriously.
Tonight though, it’s obvious to see why his music has connected with so many people. Sure, he makes jokes about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos having haemorrhoids, talks freely about his own bottom and makes fun of us for spending our Friday night watching a live-stream but the second Capaldi starts to sing, he transforms from mate to superstar.
With a pained, angelic voice delivering heart-wrenching break-up ballads, Capaldi is a powerful presence no matter the size of the stage. The likes of Hold Me While You Wait and Grace aren’t as mesmerising without an audience of thousands bellowing back the words but up close and personal, you can see the emotion written all over Capaldi’s face. Being this intimate is just a different sort of magic.
Even via a live-stream, he’s a captivating force. There’s a giddy, unpredictable sense of chaos every time Capaldi speaks between tracks as the boy simply has no filter, much to the annoyance of whoever’s in charge of the little pop-up apologising for his bad language on the stream. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve heard Somebody You’ve Loved, it still has the power to break your heart all over again while the aching sorrow of Before You Go cuts even deeper when you can see the whites of Capaldi’s eyes. He might be a one-trick pony but no one does this trick better. The panning shots of the empty venue make these sad songs even sadder, as Capaldi gives us a horrible glimpse into a potential future.
With proper live music on pause thanks to Covid-19, venues around the country are facing the very real threat of permanent closure, which is why we’re gathered around a laptop screen being encouraged to donate whatever we can. Tonight isn’t just about the money though, it’s about raising awareness around the value we put on music and art.
Capaldi and his peers didn’t just pick up a guitar and hit number one instantly. They had to work at it, playing venues such as Sneaky Pete’s to hone their craft. If those stages disappear, so does the next generation of stars.
