There aren’t many who can play Marlborough College’s Steinway grand piano like Tom Odell. He’s claimed it’s his favourite piano in the world and now he’s played here for all but one of his seven albums he’s released since Long Way Down in 2013, local residents know it’s a hot ticket to see him reunited with the iconic instrument. One performance to promote A Wonderful Life released on September 5th via Roger Mortimer of Sound Knowledge quickly led to two sold out shows, with fans keen to hear stripped back versions of his latest songs and some classics.
It was playing free from the “bells and whistles” of what has been an epic year for Tom that he was looking forward to – apart from the piano obviously. He’s been touring UK arenas in October with A Wonderful Life, as well as supporting Billie Eilish as part of the European leg of her world tour. He said how special it was to be in Marlborough to “scale it all down” – and what a privilege for those lucky enough to see one of the UK’s biggest talents – his single Another Love has had over 3.3 billion streams on Spotify – in such an intimate setting.
In the 6.30pm slot, Tom started with his 2013 hit Grow Old With Me, followed by Prayer, Don’t Cry Put Your Hand On My Shoulder and Wonderful Life from his new album. His chat he laughed was “not good” but the audience made no complaints. He said that Marlborough was a “nice part of the world” and having come from east London that afternoon, it was “much more appealing being here”. That obviously went down well, yet it wasn’t the chat people were there for anyway.
By Black Friday, he had properly warmed up: he and his favourite piano had re-familiarised and his voice both vulnerable and rousing. Then followed his latest single When I Close My Eyes and if you hadn’t been moved by the power of his lyrics before now, this one floors. For anyone experiencing grief in any form, its beautiful depiction of loss haunts you – it still is a day later. Graham Norton viewers will be treated to it on Friday December 19th – have tissues to hand. Tom has written through difficult times, including a struggle with his mental health in 2018, and while he’s in a settled place with his artist wife Georgina, it makes him no less reflective or creative. A Wonderful Life (his third album since he went independent in 2021) was written over nine months in 2024, on tour buses and trains, and is a commentary on the uncertainty in the world and society – mixed with glimmers of hope.
The penultimate track he played Can Old Lovers Ever Just Be Friends? is the penultimate from the album too. “What lacks in duration makes up for in passion,” he said about the set. “I can’t think of a joke to follow so I’ll leave it at that!” As he launched in to a slow considered and certainly passionate finale of Another Love, he left the crowd looking forward to him being reunited with the ivories again.
Rachel Corcoran
Click here for Tom Odell’s latest album – A Wonderful Life from Sound Knowledge
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