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Sean Solomon | Homerun
Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds
2nd November 2026
Accompanied by his trusty VHS player, Sean Solomon plays Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds. Andy Brown reviews for Louder Than War.
The World Is Not Good Enough – the debut album from Sean Solomon – is an album I’ve found myself coming back to again and again. In conjunction with his endearing animations, the LA-based singer-songwriter has crafted a heartfelt and endlessly listenable gem. A record that has already soundtracked countless walks and impromptu bouts of daydreaming. Solomon is currently on a short UK tour and tonight lands in the cosy confines of Hyde Park Book Club in Leeds.
First up, we’re introduced to the folky delights of Homerun. Lit by a spotlight, the Manchester-based singer-songwriter woos the assembled crowd with a set of tender acoustic meditations. “I could have been a painter,” he wonders in one song before adding with smitten conviction, “I could never draw you half as good as my eyes do”. Nick Drake fans are sure to swoon.
The most effective moments are also the subtlest: sparse strumming allowing plenty of space to pine and sigh. The songs draw on classic American singer-songwriters as well as music that feels closer to home. With a pre-emptive apology to fans, he wraps things up with an unexpected cover of Running Up That Hill by Kate Bush. A gorgeous rendition that he manages – appropriately enough – “with no problems.”
With a small, old-school television and a stack of VHS tapes, the stage is set for Sean Solomon. Tonight, the singer will accompany himself via a series of videos containing animations and backing tracks for each song in the set. “If I fuck up, I’ll have to rewind” he warns us after addressing some minor technical difficulties between the projection screen and the rather more antiquated setup. The songs are new, but the pre-Wi-Fi nostalgia makes it feel like you’re reconnecting with an old friend.
With his cup of tea carefully put to one side, the singer slides into Finish Line and my whole year suddenly comes into focus: “I thought I saw the finish line/ I was on a treadmill the whole time.” I’ve listened to this song so many times and it’s a rather special moment to finally hear it up close. Solomon explains how a smaller crowd actually feels scarier than opening for Unknown Mortal Orchestra and 2000 people: “So, anything you guys need, just let me know… I’m not going to play Kate Bush though.”
While the songs remain gentle, the choruses find Solomon really pushing his voice. The window-gazing ache of Postcard finds him red-faced and passionate as he cries: “Bad news! I’m expecting it from you!” Elsewhere, Shooting Star soars and the wall I’m leaning against rumbles in appreciation while Korpo is a beautiful, existential daydream. These songs really do get under your skin. I’m getting shivers just thinking about it now.
Solomon admits that the show might feel like “more of a TED talk than a concert” yet his storytelling adds yet another layer of intimacy. One minute he’s explaining experimental animation techniques, the next he’s sharing something incredibly personal. He talks about digitising old home videos and his youthful fascination – and fear – of the Tin Man. During Remember – as the song wraps us up in a nostalgic embrace – we see a video of the heartless hero surprising some flabbergasted kid. Who knew someone else’s home videos could be so emotional. Now I know I’ve got a heart…
Black Hole remains quietly devastating and hits all the harder with a little backstory. The singer explains that he spent time in a psych ward when he was a teenager after a bad spell with drugs and hallucinations. When he was discharged his dad ended up in a similar situation with his bipolar. All these experiences are fed into the song and the end result is undeniably heart wrenching. We get some new material (sans video accompaniment) and a strong recommendation for the Garry Shandling documentary before Solomon brings things to a close with the rather stunning Car Crash.
In front of a small yet devoted crowd, Solomon has put on the kind of show that connects on a level that’s hard to put into words. He leaves stage with the last video rewinding and we’re left with visions of scart leads and warm, fuzzy-screen memories.
~
Sean Solomon is on Facebook, his website, Instagram and Bandcamp.
Homerun can be found on Instagram.
All photos by Jim Mumby | You can find him on Facebook and Instagram.
All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War HERE.
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