Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

The Echo was nearly packed on August 14 when Will Swinton came to town, but in a good way where a room can feel both intimate and intense. It was a great setting that suited Swinton perfectly.

The night began with Tyler Vincent, who played a strong set that included his best-known song, “Grave.” Vincent already had a lot of fans in the room, but by the time he walked offstage he’d definitely made more. It was a great introduction to the night and a reminder of how much the right room with the right amount of people can showcase an artist who will likely be playing much bigger rooms soon.

Swinton took the stage with his five-piece band from New Zealand, affectionately referring to them as his “boys.” They played with the kind of talent and chemistry that made it seem like they’d been together for years. The sound was tight but not too polished, and there was natural energy between them that carried through the night.

Swinton shared some of the story behind how he got here. He talked about quitting his job at a trampoline park in New Zealand to move to Los Angeles, where he initially lived on his manager’s couch, and how his manager stayed beside him through all of it, believing in him long before there was a record deal or any guarantee that making music would pay off.

Three years later, the gamble looks like it was worth taking. Swinton has opened for Myles Smith and Dermot Kennedy, built a steadily growing fanbase, and had Kelly Clarkson cover his song “Flames.” That song was also the perfect way to start the night when he opened with it, and it gave the crowd what they already knew and loved and could sing along to.

What makes Swinton’s music connect with his fans are his personal but accessible lyrics. His songs are drawn from his own experiences, but they leave enough room for listeners to hear themselves in them.

The set moved through around 18 songs, including “Daydream,” “Find A Way,” and “Better Off.” He also threw in a cover of U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” which gave everyone in the crowd a chance to sing along together.

At the end of the set, Swinton was cajoled into coming back out for what seemed like an unplanned two-song encore, but the audience wasn’t ready to let him go. It was a fun end to a great night of music.

For all the latest on Will Swinton and the tour and news, check out @willswinton and willswinton.com.