X Ambassadors Throw A Political Party @ ULU

by | Sep 1, 2017

Want to front a chart-topping band? You’ll need more than a distinct voice. You’ll need to be a cheerleader, inciting the crowd to wave their arms or sing along in unison, like it was their idea in the first place. You’ll need so much energy that standing still is simply not an option. You’ll need the swagger to pull off iconic rock star poses (like holding your guitar aloft while in silhouette), without a hint of irony. And you’ll need the sincerity to deliver passionate monologues that celebrate both unity and self-acceptance.  

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

In short, you’ll need to be Sam Harris. He’s a frontman as mercurial as the songs he performs with X Ambassadors, a band as capable of pairing a chunky Van Halen guitar riff with a sax solo, as belting out a soul anthem. Clearly not content with just recreating the pristine sound of their 2015 debut album VHS on stage, the quartet let their songs breathe and their collective talents take full flight.

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Harris’ older brother Casey is a prodigious keyboard player, regardless of whether he’s laying down bluesy organ vibes, twinkling synths, or flamboyant piano flourishes. Harris’ college friend Adam Levin is a swinging drum player, as capable of the stomping beats of Loveless as the more subtle shuffle of Joyful, a majestic, not-yet-released ballad of gospel proportions that transforms ULU into a glowing sea of mobile phones.

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Touring guitarist Russ Flynn oozes the bassline of the R&B groover Hang On with as much confidence as the fiery Gibson SG solo he unleashes on morning-after rocker Low Life or the fuzzy distortion that dirties up a suitably rowdy Jungle.

X Ambassadors @ ULU Live, London (Edyta Krzesak)

X Ambassadors @ ULU Live, London (Edyta Krzesak)

But it’s the boundless singer and multi-instrumentalist who still comes out on top. On the irrepressible Gorgeous, dedicated to all the pretty people of London, he not only plays noodly lead guitar but breaks out a Prince-perfect falsetto. The sensual Naked (about learning to be vulnerable in a relationship and/or just stripping off) opens with the frontman on sax, while Renegades (with a powerful introduction about celebrating diversity) ends with him pounding Levin’s drums.

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Ahead Of Myself, the towering lead single of X Ambassadors’ upcoming second LP, allows Harris the vocalist to pay tribute to soul legends like Otis Redding and Ray Charles.

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

Sam Harris of X Ambassadors (Edyta Krzesak)

But it’s Hoping, released earlier this year to support the American Civil Liberties Union and performed solo tonight on an acoustic guitar, that truly reveals the magnificence of his voice. With all the charisma of ‘70s era Stevie Wonder, he croons “It’s time we tip the scales/ With the weight of the world on ourselves now” as the audience echo the refrain of “Keep on hoping”. The perfect balance of the personal and the political, the  brazen and the beautiful, it’s just another reminder from Harris that the perfect frontman must be able to do it all. 

Live review of X Ambassadors @ ULU by Nils van der Linden on 29th August 2017. Photos by Edyta K.

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing