Words and Photos by Melissa Buijtendijk
Only The Poets just wrapped up their debut album tour in Amsterdam. For the past couple of years, they have been working hard towards the release of their debut album. On January 30th, And I’d Do It Again was released. The album follows their journey as a band and all the sacrifices they’ve had to make, birthdays they’ve had to miss, and heartbreaks they’ve had to overcome along the way. Knowing it got them where they are now, they would do it all over again.
On Wednesday, April 29th, I headed down to Amsterdam to photograph the band in the beautiful venue called Paradiso. Before the show started, the band was found outside near their tour bus hosting a free signing session for their fans. The fans lined up with vinyl, posters, and other merch items, and the band generously took their time to meet each fan, chat with them, and sign these items.
Shortly after, they headed inside for the VIP experience. Chatting with the fans at the barricade, I quickly learned that this was not the typical VIP experience. The fans were allowed to join the soundcheck, participate in an exciting game of “Who’s most likely to,” and even vote for an old song to make the setlist that night.
That sense of connection was carried into the show itself. Around 7:30 pm, the lights dimmed, and the talented Tommy Lyon appeared on stage. His setlist was a perfect mixture of upbeat songs and delicate ballads, showing his versatility. Tommy’s interaction with the crowd stood out throughout his set, creating a pleasant atmosphere. A memorable moment came when he asked the crowd to join in on a TikTok with him, signing the lyrics to his unreleased song Hotel Room. The second opening act of the night was Murdo Mitchell. Alongside his raw and distinctive voice, his natural humour brought a lightness to the set, making the crowd laugh multiple times during the night. Although he only has a hand-full of songs released at the moment, his performance suggested huge potential and I am sure we will hear more of him in the future.
Only the Poets energetically appeared on stage around 9pm. The atmosphere in the venue immediately turned electric. Opening with I Keep On Messing It Up, they wasted no time turning the venue upside down. Singer Tommy’s call to “jump jump” was met with full enthusiasm. Let me tell you, the crowd did not disappoint and literally made the entire venue shake. A highlight of the evening was the performance of their song “Even Hell,” which was chosen by fans during the VIP experience. Hearing the first notes, the crowd turned ecstatic and passionately sang the lyrics “feels like home” back at the band, meaning every single word. A song that stood out to me was “Monumental.” While the lyrics are emotionally heavy, the beat will make you want to dance. Furthermore, the band delivered a fresh take on Torn by Natalie Imbruglia and allowed the crowd to choose another cover to be performed. These turned out to be Wonderwallby Oasis and Angels by Robbie Williams, making each fan sing at the top of their lungs.
Throughout the night, the energy remained high, with the occasional emotional moments in between. Near the end of the set, they made a very exciting announcement. Next year, they will bring their Halloween show to Amsterdam and Hamburg. All dressed up, they will play a lot of music, their own songs and several covers, and create one big party. As the tickets already sold out in minutes, they announced a second show in Hamburg. This is definitely a show you want to keep an eye out for in upcoming years.
The talent of the band, their compelling songs and strong songwriting, and their undeniably good stage presence, promises an exciting future ahead. Their debut album tour is just the beginning.
Loudspeaker Collective 