For the first time since 2015, Sam Smith returned to St. Louis as part of his The Trill Of It All Tour at Chaifetz Arena last night, August 17th. Playing a mix of new and old music, Smith delivered a performance of effortless and masterful vocals that have are par-for-the-course for the English crooner.
Sam Smith headlines Chaifetz Arena on his The Thrill Of It All Tour. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Along with him, Smith brought along singer-songwriter Beth Ditto to open the show. Ditto, former vocalist for the indie-rock band Gossip, took the stage for nearly a half hour, charming the crowd with her Janis Joplin-esque vocals and dry humor. Amidst her jokes of not really knowing who Sam Smith is, Ditto paid a simple, but powerful tribute to the late Aretha Franklin just days after her passing with a rendition of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” In respect to the late queen of soul, Ditto let the crowd carry the chorus of the song with their voices, sure to give goosebumps.
Beth Ditto opens for Sam Smith at Chaifetz Arena on his The Thrill Of It All Tour. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
At the end of her set, Ditto thanked the crowd for being there early to watch her set and passed the baton to Smith.
Prior to Sam Smith taking the stage, the lights dimmed as a white text flashed across two screens on the wings of the stage:
Sam Smith headlines Chaifetz Arena on his The Thrill Of It All Tour. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Let’s turn off our phones tonight
And rely on the stars.
We’ve been so lost lately,
We forgot who we are.
While these are lyrics to one of Smith’s songs titled “One Day At A Time,” it also serves as a polite reminder for fans to pocket their cellphones and enjoy the show in the moment instead of waving their phones in the air for the entire duration of his performance. By no surprise, the suggestion was ignored by most, as when a single spotlight hit Smith, sitting in a chair with microphone in hand, fans put their phones in the air to capture the moment the crooner began singing.
I can’t say that I blame the fans for wanting to capture a video of the masterful vocalist though, as throughout his 22-song performance, his whimsical vocal runs, throaty chest voice, and airy falsetto remained effortless, powerful, and spot on to the studio versions of each track.
Sam Smith headlines Chaifetz Arena on his The Thrill Of It All Tour. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Sam Smith is a force to be reckoned with. Dominating pop charts with soulful tracks like “Stay With Me”; “I’m Not The Only One”; and most recently, “Pray” is a feat on its own, but to do it with class, pride, and immense gratitude sets Smith even further apart from artists on those same charts.
With his live performance full of emotional moments, tender moments, and joyful moments alike, Smith showed his St. Louis audience that he is an artist that won’t be going anywhere but up anytime soon.
Sam Smith headlines Chaifetz Arena on his The Thrill Of It All Tour. Photo © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
Photos © Alyssa Bardol/Alyssa Bardol Photography
