After debuting his first singles “Golden Age” and “What Are We Waiting For”, the young streaming rising star Fergus James has already taken crowds by storm. Fitzroy’s very own Workers Club was fortunate enough to host his first ever Melbourne headline show.
After packing out the intimate Workers Club Bandroom, he started off the night with his marimba driven song “Carry You”. Filled with meticulous hooks and youthful tones about being there for somebody, it was a great track to start the mood for the night and give the crowd a taste of what Fergus James can achieve in his live experience.
Not only did he deliver an engaging live set, but Fergus also humbled the crowd by expressing his gratitude for people showing up to his first ever Melbourne show, which was a great follow up after selling out his hometown Armidale show at The Stro.
As the night when on, his biggest hit so far, “Golden Age”, came alive on stage. Just as catchy and danceable as the studio version, the echo of the crowd reflected the standard of songwriting that came from this man. The track perfectly catches the feeling of the moment before a relationship begins. The chase, the build-up and the love. All captured into a great, great song.
Showing more of an intimate side to his music was the track that started it all, “Snow”. This track caught the attention of Justin Timberlake after he visited his high school to check out the talent. The intimacy of the acoustic guitar picking matched with his raspy vocals made the song feel so authentic and come from the heart. Fergus definitely has the musical intelligence and the talent to speak from both louder and intimate places.
One of my favourite tracks of the night was a song called “Old Stars”, also one of his more intimate songs. He invited his mentor and longtime friend (and sensational artist in his own right) Dustin Tebbutt on stage with him, bringing the song to the next level. A song about the longing and the distance in love, “Old Stars” brought the evening to an even sweeter standpoint.
To finish the night he presented his incredible track “What Are We Waiting For” to make the intimate space of The Workers Club have a stadium filled atmosphere. His band were outstanding and gave this rising musician the support he needed to make his first ever Melbourne show a memorable one.
I’m excited to see what this guy has in store for the future.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Fergus James is currently touring the country, with his final show taking him to Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory on March 28th. For tickets, dates and more details, head to his Facebook Page.
The reviewer attended the show on Friday, 22nd March 2019.
