TOM VEK shambles on stage looking much younger than his twenty three years suggest him to be. He looks small and fragile, and totally dwarfed by his backing band.
But when the opening chords of 'Blessing' start, Vek changes
from a puny weakling into someone who seems strong and defiant, filling the stage with his presence. With smoke blowing atmospherically round him and the crowd at the sold out venue surging towards him, it is clear to see that Tom Vek is a much different person to the one who came to Newcastle in February earlier this year.
Then, Vek was playing in the tiny confines of the Newcastle University Global Café, with no more than 20 people watching. The sound was all out of synch with screeching feedback and whispering instead of singing, and Vek ignored the audience, preferring instead to flick his hair away from his head every couple of minutes like an extra in a shampoo advert. All in all it was a bit rubbish.
Luckily this time there is no hair waving to be seen (thank god!), the sound is top notch and the set tight, and packed full of gems such as 'C-C', 'Green Lights' and 'A Little Word.' Vek is in good form, laughing and joking with the audience, and introduces the two B-sides that are coming out with his latest single. 'Music Television' is full of electronic keyboards and twanging bass lines, and 'One Horse Race' typifies Tom Veks' sound with simple guitar chords and beautifully melodic vocals from the man himself.
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The night finishes appropriately enough with ' I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes' and cries of "more" from the eager audience. It was a brilliant night and it was fantastic to see how much Vek had changed for the better from the last time I'd seen him. Gone was the arrogance and the air that he was unbeatable, and instead there was a relaxed man with a lovely smile and who looked amazed that he could draw such an adoring crowd.
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