Raleigh Ritchie, O2 Forum Kentish Town: Exuberant energy and boyish charm, gig review

The Bristolian's energy mesmerises crowds while psychedelic tunes reveal his vulnerabilty

Raleigh Ritchie, as his stage name, performs at the O2 Forum Kentish Town (C Brandon/Redferns/ Getty)

“I wanna live forever… this world is mine” was the opening line of Raleigh Ritchie, aka Bristolian Jacob Anderson’s, first big headlining London gig. And no one could have accused him of shying away from it. The O2 Forum at Kentish Town was full of anticipation for his first solo tour – which fans have been awaiting since releasing his first EP in 2013 – and the young crowd even knew the lyrics. What more could an artist still largely on the peripherals of mainstream music want?

Donning a backwards black cap and flashing trainers, he quite literally threw himself and his mesmerising energy around the stage – not too different from an excitable child – and opened with the pulsing Werld is Mine, the first song from his album “You’re A Man Now Boy” released in February.

Straddling genres, from pop to R&B and hip-hop with a little bit of electronic Raleigh Ritchie – along with his four piece band – effortlessly consume the Forum with lyrics full of love, depression and ambition.

He stormed on through into Cowards; a light and soulful tune with a steel band sound that wouldn’t seem out of place at Notting Hill Carnival, which swiftly changed to the uplifting and heartfelt tones of Never Better. A song he attributed to being in a “shitty place”, and then finding that person who can bring you out of it.

His youthful bravado continued throughout the show and he was genuinely humbled when fans were able to sing his lyrics back at him, saying: “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you singing my songs back at me”.

Jacob Anderson, aka Raleigh Ritchie, headlines at the Forum (Rex Features)

What some might mistake for cockiness, while he confidently jumps across the stage at every given opportunity, is actually his peppy boyish charm evident with the album’s title song, You’re a Man Now Boy, where he playfully compares astronaut childhood dreams to adult realities.

Moving on to his “older” music from the EP “Black and Blue Point Two”, with The Chased; an almost psychedelic rhythm with an atmospheric synth about coaxing a girl to run away with him. Followed by Stay Inside from the same EP – sounding like a British version of Frank Ocean.

Taking a more sombre turn, Birthday Girl slows the liveliness down with brooding vocals and eerie guitar notes, ending with him collapsing to the floor, in an ode to a revengeful lover – killing him for missing her birthday. But the show is brought back to life with the feel good tune Keep it Simple featuring Brit rapper Stormzy.

The singer also paid a moving tribute to Prince, when he asked everyone to get their phone lights out – replacing lighters – leading to a sea of iPhone lights adorning the Forum, which slowly sank to the ground in respectful unison.

He wrapped up on a high with Bloodsport (originally from his 2015 EP) and Never Say Die, with the line “I left my heart in Bristol” – where he played a home gig a few days before – followed by fan-favourite Stronger Than Ever.

Considering his current low music profile – previously supporting singer songwriter Kwarbs and George Ezra – he’ll now be referred to as Raleigh Ritchie, and shed his former titles of Adulthood’s Omen, or to be more topical, Grey Worm from Game of Thrones. Raleigh Ritchie will live forever; at least in musical terms.