Charlie Jeer Took His First-Ever Tour to Cologne, and It Was 'So Good'

It's Thursday, the 22nd of October, and people eagerly enter Cologne's Yard Club. The room buzzes with enthusiastic chatter as people wait for the British up-and-coming star Charlie Jeer's arrival. A colorful mix of orange, blue, green, and red lights awaits him. The venue sold out pretty quickly on his first-ever tour, promising a good night before it even started.

But before the star of the night enters the stage, a DJ who later turns out to be Charlie's DJ, Rory Nelson, gets up and warms up the crowd with a set of house and modern touches. The crowd instantly nods along, softly swaying to its beat.

"How are you feeling, Cologne? Are you ready for Charlie Jeer?" He asks the crowd halfway through his set, and the reply he receives is a chorus of cheers and screams.

Once the clock strikes 9 pm, the crowd parts slightly from the stage to the back of the venue, creating a path that Charlie takes to the front. His saxophone in hand and a smile on his face, he passes the excited fans and crowd members. Some of whom can't believe their favorite artist is walking past them in this intimate venue. Surprised laughter and euphoria fill the room from every angle. The atmosphere beams with anticipation and excitement for the night.

Once on stage, he launches into his first song of the night, "Nobody". The crowd instantly starts dancing and singing, only getting starstruck when Charlie starts playing his saxophone. Approving cheers and clapping accompany his playing.

"Cologne, how are we feeling tonight? Are you ready for a good time?" The energy of the venue was already evident and only intensified with "My Madonna", its hypnotizing blend of jazz, house, and modern influences.

And while Charlie sings, "I just wanna dance a little bit closer," it seems as if the crowd wants to grant him his wish as they dance closer to the stage. Another one of his lyrics that stood out is, "When you dance, you're alive." A very fitting description of the crowd's behavior. During the song, Charlie engages with his fans, smiling and pointing at them, including them in his set. Notably, what catches our attention is that Charlie sings some of his songs and certain lyrics with his eyes closed. A striking feature you don't see often during concerts. It adds a more intimate, emotional feel to the lyrics and the intended feelings they evoke.

It's my first time in Cologne. How do you say it in German? Cologne, I mean,

he shares eagerly and asks the crowd for an answer.

A handful of people scream "Köln" while Charlie listens intently and repeats it a few seconds later. The delight of the crowd is evident. They're happy that their favorite singer can speak their language.

“Mein Deutsch ist ziemlich gut. Es war aber nicht mein Lieblingsfach in der Schule.” Charlie leans into his mic and grins. Then he takes a second to look at specific people in the back of the crowd.

"Make some noise for some of my friends who traveled all the way from the UK to see me perform tonight." The noise is loud. The crowd is visibly happy for Charlie.

The only rule of the night is to have fun. Can you do that for me?

After he's satisfied with the crowd's approval, he launches into his song, "Complications".

While "Florence" has the club softly swaying to Charlie's voice, accompanied by his smiles at his fans and moments with his eyes closed, giving the songs even more depth and feeling, his song "Sun Is Gone" has people screaming and cheering before the song even really starts.

However, once the saxophone sections begin, the crowd grows awfully quiet under the spell of his mesmerizing talent for playing the saxophone. And Charlie noticed it afterward.

"Oh, it got quiet in here." He chuckles, and the crowd grants him soft smiles. "Hamburg said that Cologne's crowds are quiet," he teases and defends himself by adding,

I told them, 'No! They're not. They are loud.' Am I right, Cologne?

The disapproving sounds turn cheerful again, ready to prove Hamburg wrong in their assumption.

Charlie smiles. "Yeah, let's keep it up."

Throughout the night, the crowd is either really, really quiet, captivated by the spell of Charlie's voice and saxophone, or clapping loudly, singing along, and dancing as if they can't do anything else.

Before his next song, he shouts out his DJ. "Give it up for my guy on the mishpult, Rory Nelson." The crowd claps. Charlie shares that the girlfriend of his crew mate came yesterday, but that she is not his girlfriend anymore.

A call of sadness echoes through the venue, but then instantly lightens when Charlie shares, "She is his fiancée!" The atmosphere turns light and enthusiastic, filled with joyful laughter and applause.

"So, this next song is for them! This is "small talk".

He dedicates the song to them and launches into the feature song he has with Cat Burns. The applause after the song is immense.

This is the pivotal moment of the show. From here on out, it's going to be a party. Ready?

Euphoric screams meet our ears.

"Yeah? Put your seatbelts on." Charlie declares, and "Molecules" begins. Dancing and singing take over the crowd, the more upbeat beat turning the vibe into a full-on party rather than a typical concert experience. The crowd's engagement grows even further when Charlie lets out parts to sing and lets the crowd sing them instead, like "Oh, I feel you in my molecules."

The transition into "Lucid Dreaming" is executed perfectly, keeping the beat going so the crowd can dance without stopping and maintaining the vibe. The crowd consists of 20-somethings, some younger, and some older. Even parents with their children came to enjoy the Brit's recognizable voice, his alluring saxophone playing, and the mix of musical influences.

Another notable moment of his set comes with his cover of Calvin Harris' and Disciples' "How Deep Is Your Love", which takes the audience by surprise. Once the shock wears off, they sing and dance along with Charlie, proving that he did choose a great cover that fits his vibe, with deep house and electronic dance music and its fast-paced, addictive lyrics and rhythm. His personal touch of adding saxophone solos makes this performance even more special, earning a round of applause and cheers.

Two years ago, I was singing in the shower or in the car. I never thought I would be able to have a career in music, and now I'm here. I'm so blessed for everyone who is here tonight and is coming to these shows. I genuinely never thought any of this was possible.

Charlie takes a moment to take it all in - the feeling of having all the people here tonight, the happy faces, and the dream he can live every day since that pivotal moment of his career.

This next song I wrote about a moment, a feeling. And I released it with no label, no manager, no team, nothing. I just released it. And it went viral. Even here in Germany. Thanks to you. This is "Her Eyes".

Charlie shares with the crowd, then starts to sing his 2024 debut single, which changed his life forever. During the song, he lets the crowd finish the next lines: "She said she loves me, but just with her eyes."

"Usually this is the part where I go off the stage, and you scream: One more song." He looks through the packed club with no change in going back and forth because of the venue's structure. "Let's skip that part," he declares and looks through the crowd with a question on his lips. "Is there a Jennifer here tonight?"

Suddenly, every single person looks around, wanting to help Charlie find a Jennifer. Especially in Germany, it should be easy to spot one in the crowd. And then, a soft voice in the back says, "Here." A light voice that makes Charlie smile. "I'm going to dedicate this next song to you."

An immediate "Aww" erupts from the crowd, and "Jennifer" starts to the delight of not only Jennifer in the crowd, but every other soul singing and dancing along.

"We just about got time for one more song. Did you guys have fun?" The crowd cheers.

"Did you have a really good time?" Only a few people answer with cheers. "I asked, did you have a really good time?" Charlie repeats himself, and the people scream.  

"Was it 'SO GOOD'?" He grins into the mic and starts singing "So Good," the featured song with Simone Ashley.

The lyrics "[…] walking like a criminal" are instantly screamed by the crowd, and Charlie earns even more cheers and screams when he changes London to Cologne in his next lyric. "Said she wants to move to Cologne." Charlie grins smugly when it lands. He points at the crowd as he moves across the stage, singing, and then plays his saxophone one more time for the night.

After the applause winds down, he puts his hand on his heart, visibly touched by the support.

Thank you guys so, so much. I'm so grateful for you, and that I'm able to do this because of you. This was our last song.

Another sad noise rumbles through the sold-out venue, filled with people not able to say goodbye yet. "But-but!" Charlie breaks through the sad atmosphere.

I had loved to stick around to take pictures and talk with you, guys. I'll take a 10-minute breather and then come out to the merch table. Thank you so so much for showing up tonight, Köln.

Tonight might have been his first show in Cologne and his first-ever tour, but one thing is for sure: Charlie has what it takes to make it big. His charisma, kind soul, talent for the saxophone, and distinct sound make him one to watch. Charlie Jeer's musical career might have only started two years ago, but it is far from over. It is just the beginning.

Photo Credits: Charlie Jeer

Listen to Charlie Jeer's music here:

WRITTEN BY

Sabrina

Writer

I love sharing the things that bring me joy and make me feel at home. Whether it’s stumbling upon hidden gems, experiencing unforgettable concerts, or finding inspiration in art, books, and film, I’m always chasing moments that matter. Life keeps me moving, and through writing, I get to share my adventures and my love for the artists who inspire me. There’s so much beauty out there waiting to be seen and appreciated!