I Went On A Date With James Vickery
(& I’d do it again)
Those of you who know me might be confused. Bria? On a date...with a man?? I know it sounds strange but it’s true (sort of). Last week, I made my way downtown for an evening of smooth talking, vodka-red bulls, and sensual music, hosted by London’s cheekiest lad, James Vickery.
The event—aptly titled Date Night with James Vickery—was held at Groove, a quaint music venue in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. The cozy interior, featuring rustic brick walls and blue mood lighting, proved to be the perfect setting for Vickery, who began the night with a spiel about his upcoming album (out this fall). From there, we spent the next hour listening to his latest creations, or as Vickery calls it, “missionary eye contact music.”
If not for his sheer talent and charm, the performance could have veered into teenage-boy-playing-wonderwall-territory, but he pulled it off. Vickery’s voice was impressively strong, and when he needed a break, he charmed the crowd with quips about dating, and, strangely, Trader Joe’s. Apparently, the Britt’s don’t have an equivalent shopping experience, though I think it’s fair to say we’d trade TJ’s for better leadership. But, hey, this was Vickery’s first time in New York, so I’ll cut him some slack. A grocery store in the middle of Manhattan selling 60% snacks and 40% food is pretty fun. And you know what? The flirty cashiers don’t hurt either.
Anyway, the night went off without a hitch as Vickery proved that he’s a name we ought to remember. For the past eight years, he’s quietly released soulful tracks that 2014 Sam Smith would be proud of—my favorite is “Until Morning”—but now, it appears Vickery is ready for something new. He’s replaced his melancholy tracks with upbeat anthems, fit for a hot-boy summer. As with most changes, it takes a while to sort out the kinks, but he’s on the brink of something special.
This month, Vickery is taking the Date Night series to Europe. If you’re reading this from across the pond or are traveling soon, click here to register for his next show. For those of us stuck in America (at least we have Trader Joe’s), you can keep up with Vickery on Instagram and Spotify.