Concert Review: Tom Walker Put The “Man” In Romantic At Bowery Ballroom
Sometimes, we forget that men can and want to feel. In a world where women are degraded as being “too emotional,” and men are too easily associated with the term “emotionally available,” romance is a perplexing concept. True love takes balance, and how “unavailable” and “too much” can unite seems complicated. Luckily, Tom Walker’s Bowery Ballroom show testified that love brings harmony through humility.
From “Sun Goes Down” to “My Way,” Walker’s verses went for the small details of life. Whether it is the love of having his woman, his dog, and himself snuggle in their cozy home, “Just You And I,” or the dreaminess of seeing your love someone else as your escape, “Fly Away With Me,” Walker is a genius at building guitar melodies that house his verses. He can go from the uproarious, rock anthem “Rapture” to the quintessential, sweet chorded bromance song, “Blessings.” He can also go from singing about playing Fifa to warming others that “Karma” is a real thing. Yet, no matter what, he aims to enjoy love and not bask in fleeting things like, money and fame.
From the get-go, Walker looks like a “man’s man.” Thanks to his fisherman cap, he appears as if he knows what it is to work hard by the docks, but feel frustrated that the boat ride has to end, the fish go to feed other people, and he is left wondering where/ when he will feel fed. He is incredibly wise and grounded in his lyrics, which makes his voice feel like grapes bursting to make wine. His vocality could be synonymous with a bear or lion call: a king of his domain. Yet, here is where the “romantic man” inside him lies. Though he can summon all the power of the world, even boldly calling out its corruptness, he is soft to what it is to be held by someone and want to hold them in return.
Tom Walker – Leave a Light On (Official Video)
Walker’s show was one of the first, if not few times, I saw men singing lyrics to a love song like women do to a Taylor Swift one. Between joking with the audience and checking if they were having an “f**king good time” to talking about his beloved grandma, Walker showed that guys may chug beers, but they also want their heart strings pulled. Hence, his upcoming debut, “What A Time To Be Alive,” is setting up to be a poignant album on how disappointing this world can be, but how our lovers become our safe spaces from such discouragement. For More Information On Tom Walker Click Here.
Tom Walker – Fly Away With Me (Official Video)
