People Watching with Sam Fender
- Erin Carley
- Sep 27
- 2 min read
Sam Fender brought the People Watching tour to Chicago on Thursday, September 25. Surrounded by a mass of fans, he brought the energy to a sold out Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom.
The night began with a brief and lively set from Chicago’s own Young Jesus. With just about thirty minutes, they managed to rev the crowd up and left us – or, at least left me – wanting to listen to more of their music after the show. Lead singer John Rossiter even mentioned how they used to dream of playing in this room.
The Aragon Ballroom has quite the lore. Once Sam Fender took the stage, he mentioned a handful of times how in love he was with the venue. With Spanish Baroque interiors and a cosmic ceiling mural, the building provides a treat for the eyes. Pair that with the treat that is Sam Fender’s vocal cords and you’ve got a class night. (I think his English slang is rubbing off – did I use “class” right?)
Truly, Fender may have some of the strongest pipes I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing live. Belting song after song as if each is his last, he never missed a beat. Every member of his band was animated throughout, adding extra energy to the stage. His fans adore him and were captivated the entire show – I even learned new tidbits about Fender from overhearing fan conversations. According to the fan behind me (and a quick fact check), I learned that “Spit of You” was written about his dad. Fender’s exploration of humanity in his songwriting translates into a powerful live performance.
Chills were felt and songs were belted. With upcoming dates in the Midwest US, Canada, and Australia, this tour is not one to miss.
