Music / Reviews
Review: Raleigh Ritchie, O2 Academy
The energy that Raleigh Ritchie brings to the stage is, quite frankly, ridiculous.
When he bounced out wearing LED shoes and a massive grin, the show started on a clear note: this was going to be fun.
It was a pretty eventful show as it happens – in between girls screaming and one super-fan handing a wrapped present to Ritchie over the barriers (fingers crossed it was a framed picture of her face), there was also a marriage proposal – love was in the air!
Looking around at a practically sold-out O2 brimming with teens, it reflected the tone of Ritchie’s songs. They encapsulate first time love, making mistakes and growing up. Lyrically and musically his songs aren’t over-complicated, making the themes of nostalgia, heartbreak and hope clear from the offset.
His energy carried the set, complimented by a confident band, while his thrashing dance moves (something of a trademark now) inspired the crowd every time. I couldn’t help but smile seeing his mum, hands up, dancing in the thick of it.
It felt like Bristol was brimming with pride when he wrapped up the set (pre encore) with Bloodsport. The entire crowd sang back to him: one of our boys, who had joked earlier about watching the film Casper The Friendly Ghost there in his youth.
Ritchie’s humble, cheerful demeanour was magnetic, not least when he sprung a rhythm game on his band mid-set, got involved with the drums and then jumped off the platform, knocking over the mic.
With a ‘whoops’ face to the crowd he joked “alright, calm down everybody. We’ve all had a bit to drink, let’s just calm down alright?!”
Raleigh Ritchie has proved he is more than a one-track man. The current album is a clear evolution from the one that came before it.
I’d say his album title sums it up perfectly – You’re A Man Now, Boy.