Certain moments in music don’t quite feel real until you take a second to step back and process them. Standing in the O2 Academy Bristol, watching Leon Thomas walk out on stage, was one of those moments.
For a lot of us, he was never just Leon Thomas. He was Andre from Victorious, someone we grew up watching, but with no idea what he would go on to become. A fantastic DJ created a beautiful sense of nostalgia as they played classic club bangers, ending with the Victorious songs, which were even better than they had any right to be! (This was mainly due to the songs being written by Leon himself). But this wasn’t the Victorious star we grew up on anymore. This was a two-time Grammy-winning artist, fully realised, completely in control of his sound and genre, yet still only getting started.
From the opening stretch, there was a calmness to the performance. Not a lack of energy, Thomas expressed a clear excitement for the energy the crowd was giving him (Bristol being known for amazing crowds after all), but a quiet confidence. The kind that doesn’t need to prove anything. Tracks like HOW FAST and DANCING WITH DEMONS eased us in, before VIBES DON’T LIE took everyone into that smooth, late-night groove that defines so much of his sound and his overarching aesthetic. It never felt rushed. If anything, the set breathed exactly where needed, with a consistent crowd involvement which formed a mesmerising call and response collaboration. That sense of fluidity extended beyond the songs themselves and into a camaraderie onstage.
Leon Thomas isn’t just a vocalist leading a band; he’s part of the machinery of it. Throughout the set, there was a constant rotation, a quiet understanding between the musicians that allowed the performance to feel alive. Instruments shifted hands, roles blurred, and at times, Thomas stepped away from the mic entirely. Most notably for a drum solo that didn’t feel like a gimmick, but a reminder of just how deep his artistry runs, that’s if by any miracle, anyone forgot his extensive skillset. It added another layer to the night. You weren’t just watching an artist perform his songs, you were watching a musician fully immersed in them, just as we, the listeners, were on the night.
That’s where Leon Thomas stands out live. There’s a looseness to it all. Songs didn’t feel like a strict performance; they each felt lived in. Moments stretch slightly, vocals runs and melody changes carry a bit more weight, and the band sits right in that pocket where everything feels effortless but intentional.
But there are always those songs. The ones that don’t just land, they stay with you. The ones you wait all night to finally witness come alive, and flood into your ears in the flesh and not through the stereo. For me, that was Treasure in the Hills. It’s already a song that’s been on repeat for me. The kind of track that feels playful in its lyricism, almost addictive in the way it moves. There’s something about the way it’s written that doesn’t try too hard yet still sticks. It speaks on themes of the pursuit of happiness and meaning. With lyrics such as “Chase more than diamonds and gold, I’m tryna find me a soul”, Thomas expresses his desire to feel content within his inner being and not simply striving for materialistic value and assets.
Hearing it live only amplified the feeling created in the track. Lines that feel light and effortless on record suddenly carried more personality in the room, bouncing between the stage and the crowd like everyone was in on it, except they weren’t. As it is a somewhat hidden gem within his discography, I highly recommend it.
It’s rare for a song to feel both intimate and fun at the same time, but Treasure in the Hills sits
right in that space and has perfected it. In that moment, it didn’t just sound good; it filled my soul with joy, as I remembered how long I’d always admired Leon Thomas. From being 7/8 years old, grooving to his performances on Victorious, to now, at 21, attempting to put my pure elation into a digestible article.
It’s hard to describe properly without sounding cliché, but it genuinely felt like time slowed down for a second. Maybe that’s what Leon Thomas is all about. Because beyond the setlist, beyond the performance itself, there was this underlying feeling of growth, not just his, but ours as well. Watching someone transition from a childhood TV screen to a stage like this, with a catalogue and credibility to match, is rare. Especially in a venue like the O2 Academy, it felt personal and close. Not in an “I’ve known him” way, but in a “I’ve seen the journey” kind of way.
Full circle is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, especially in live music. But this one felt like a perfectly accurate description of not only Leon’s character, but the journey his music will take everyone on.
Because this wasn’t about nostalgia carrying the night. It was about realising that the artist you grew up watching has become something even better than you expected. Thomas is the absolute epitome of modern RnB. A face in his genre and soon to be a face of the industry,
especially with the quality of his most recent work, too. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favour and play his albums till you know every word to every song. From Andre Harris to two-time GRAMMY winner Leon Thomas, form is temporary, but class is timeless.
