Vagabond And James Morrison

Alex Vargas - Vocals / Guitar
Stephen Carter - Guitar
Luke Fitton - Guitar
Sam Odiwe - Bass
Karl Penney - Drums

After figuring out where we were going and how to get there, running round Nottingham, trying to find the stage door (then asking if we were in the right place before discovering the massive sign saying ‘stage door’) and getting a roadie to run around for us, we finally managed to get inside the Nottingham Play House. 

We found Vagabond (James Morrison’s official support band) wandering around the backstage area carrying food after doing their warm up. Upon saying that we (Hunter and I) would be interviewing them soon, they invited us into their dressing room. 

The guys - Alex Vargas (vocals/acoustic guitar), Stephen Carter (guitar), Luke Fitton (guitar), Sam Odiwe (bass), Karl Penney (drums) - were all down to earth and haven’t let fame and traveling with Morrison get to their heads. Throughout the interview they were very calm, laid back and chatty which made my job so much easier. 

After we got chucked out (I say chucked.. more like guided out by the band members) we went straight into the concert hall and waited with anticipation for them to come onstage and knock our socks off. 

By the time they’d played their first song Vagabond had the audience hooked even though the vast majority of the crowd had probably never even heard of them, potentially the hottest up and coming band for 2009. They played the songs with everything they had and they looked like they were enjoying themselves the whole time. Front man Alex Vargas’ strong voice impressed and the bassline from Sam Odiwe shook the floor. With different melodies played over and under each other they had an impressive set. Vagabond went from real headbanging tunes through easy foot tapping songs to slow blues with ease making for an impressive half hour. The finished with their addictive single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ which will be released on 8th June 2009. Their songs had people dancing, foot tapping and clapping without thinking about it – it just seemed like the nautral thing to do. 

When Vagabond left the stage they got massive cheers from eveyone in the concert hall. One lady said “I don’t like music but I loved that!”. Others were saying how “amazing” they were and how they wanted “to hear more”. It was like they were the band that the audience had come to see. I forgot it was James Morrison who was about to take center stage. 

James Morrison was welcomed to the stage with a standing ovation from the audience, ladies screamed and men cheered as he began his first song. The audience had seen who they had all been waiting for and they went wild. Hooked from the first few words, they enjoyed every minute of it. After his first two upbeat foot tapping songs Morrison changed to a slower pace with ease. 

We were impressed by his voice - neither myself or Hunter realised he was such a strong singer. No pre-recorded singing was used, it was all James which is one of the reasons he attracts such a big crowd everywhere he goes. 

I’ve been listening to Sweat (Until The Morning) whilst typing away and every time the song ends I just want to hear it again and again, it’s so catchy. I would definitely interview Vagabond again and will probably buy their album “You Don’t Know The Half Of It” which comes out on the 22nd June 2009 even though I’m not a massive music fan. They play a variety of genres ranging from syth-pop, synth-tinged rock, soulful pop and blues which is what makes them so likeable – they do something for everybody. 

Vagabond’s official site: www.vagabondtheband.com