Concert Review: Cameron Whitcomb (Fillmore Charlotte)

BY TAYLOR STALEY

Cameron Whitcomb brought the Fragile Egos tour to Charlotte, NC this past Wednesday night at The Fillmore! Outside the venue, fans lined up around the block waiting in anticipation for doors to open. There are a few different places where you may recognize Cameron Whitcomb from. Before his rise, the Canadian singer-songwriter shared videos of his singing on Reddit at just 19 years old. This eventually led him to audition for season 20 of American Idol. After finishing as a Top 20 finalist, he quickly signed with Atlantic Records launching the next chapter of his career.

Joining Cameron Whitcomb on this stop of the tour is opener Stella Lefty. The singer-songwriter, originally from Chicago, took the stage opening her set with “You Were Mine.” Her music showcases her emotional lyrical ability and raw vocals. She shared with the crowd that this evening was her first time ever visiting North Carolina--and she received an extremely warm welcome from everyone. She included a cover of “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus in her set, perfectly timed with the 20-year anniversary of Hannah Montana in the past few weeks. She ended her set with her song “Thinking ‘Bout You” which recently went viral on Tik Tok--a moment that may spark recognition for those who didn’t realize they may already know her music.

The crowd was fully energized and ready to go as the lights dimmed and the music began to build. Cameron Whitcomb burst out onstage and kicked off the night with a backflip, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The energy that was radiating off of Cameron was off the charts. He looked so genuinely happy to be there. The first song of the night was “Hundred Mile High,” a song detailing what it is like to chase toxic highs and the desperate struggle for emotional stability. These are subject matters that are no stranger to Cameron Whitcomb.

You see, Cameron Whitcomb has struggled with addiction since the age of 13, beginning his sobriety journey at the age of 22 due to losing his best friend from an overdose. He has been incredibly open and honest about what navigating that journey has looked like for him. His debut album, The Hard Way, is a 15-track record detailing exactly what that journey looked like for him. He sprinkles tracks from that album such as “The Hard Way,” “Call For You,” and “Options” throughout the set while also including newer music such as “You and Me,” a song written for his girlfriend who he shouted out in the crowd.

Cameron brought out Stella Lefty for a cover of “All Your’n” by Tyler Childers and they sounded magical together. Both of their voices really compliment each other and they have a natural chemistry that works well. He includes a second cover later in his set of the famous “Creep” by Radiohead. I didn’t expect this cover from him but I was surprised by how well he handled it. The fusion of his country-leaning sound in this cover breathes new life into a song we are all familiar with.

What really stuck with me throughout this show is just how much Cameron Whitcomb seems to care about his fans. I noticed at the beginning of the show that there was a group of fans that were chosen to watch the show from in front of the barricade for the first few songs. I thought that this was a really sweet gesture that I haven’t really seen other artists include before. There was also a moment a few songs in when Cameron noticed a birthday girl in the crowd. He brought her up on stage where she told everyone that her name was Ryland and she was turning 10 years old. Without hesitation, Cameron immediately asked the audience to join in on singing her a happy birthday. It’s these kinds of small, sweet gestures that really transform the night from a great concert into a truly unforgettable experience.

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TAYLOR STALEY

Taylor Staley is a Charleston, SC, native who currently resides in Columbia, SC. In her free time, you can catch her tearing up the interstate going between Charlotte and Atlanta, looking for her next show to shoot. She has three animals, two cats and a dog, that keep her quite busy. Her favorite genres are pop, alternative, and indie but you can really find her listening to just about anything. Follow her on instagram at tay.atshows.

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