On December 16, 2023, the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra performed its annual holiday concert, “Winter Wonderland,” to a packed house at the Broome County Forum Theatre.
A glittering celebration of the season, Winter Wonderland featured Christmas hits both old and new by Tchaikovsky, Johann Strauss, John Williams, and young American composer Quinn Mason; carol singalongs led by soloists from Tri-Cities Opera; and a screening of the British animated classic “The Snowman” with live orchestral accompaniment.
There was something for everyone in the lively concert. Mason showed a distinctly American voice in his lyrical, atmospheric “Christmas Eve Festivities,” which is becoming a new classic. Local newscaster Jim Ehmke was the narrator for Bill Holcombe’s charming “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” a musical setting of the beloved poem by Clement C. Moore. The guest conductor for Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride” was local businessman Jonny Norton, who had won the spot in a fundraising auction, and Norton clearly enjoyed himself heartily, along with the orchestra and audience. Young treble soloist Eva Dixon, a 13-year-old soprano from New York City, sang the haunting solo, “Walking in the Air,” in “The Snowman” with delicacy and aplomb.
The orchestra played with uplifting energy and precision, led by the confident conducting of Maestro Daniel Hege, who managed to infuse even the most familiar carols with a spirit of wintry revelry. Maestro Hege engaged the audience with his trademark lighthearted banter, and the audience responded with exuberant singing, hand-clapping, and a standing ovation at the end. For the enthusiastic and festively-dressed concertgoers, including many children, “Winter Wonderland” was a truly magical experience, and a not-to-be-missed event of the holiday season in New York’s Southern Tier.
To close out a tremendous year of touring, Billy Strings arrived in the Salt City of Syracuse on Saturday, December 16, for a performance at Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial.
Having just returned from a European tour in November, Billy Strings embarked on a brief, 10 day tour worked its way up the East Coast from Greensboro, NC, stopping in Maryland and Pennsylvania before arriving in Syracuse.
photo by Allison Marie
A usual preshow crowd was found throughout bars and restaurants in downtown Syracuse, with a small lot scene taking shape on this temperate late fall night in Syracuse. Only a trio of shows in New Orleans over New Years Eve remain, following a year touring that was began and ended with shows in minor-league hockey arenas.
One of the best things about a Billy Strings show happens before the music even begins – the band gives you a heads up that the show will be starting soon, something more bands could and should do (especially if ticket time is all but ignored). Flashing on the three screens that frame the stage, the audience is forewarned with bright and brief flashes of “15 Minutes until Fuzzy Rainbows”, then 10 minutes, and 5 minutes, giving an extra level of anticipation for the patient, sold out crowd.
Over the course of two sets, Billy Strings would play nearly 30 songs, more than half of them covers, mainly from relatively obscure bluegrass and early country artists, plus a choice Led Zepplin cover.
The night began with original “Home,” followed by “West Dakota Rose” by Chris Henry. After “Down Yonder,” Billy greeted the crowd, noting it had been a long time since the band had last played there – but this was indeed the first show, while also having played Rochester a year prior.
An excellent psychedelic trance formed in “Fire Line” and shifted into the traditional “Raleigh and Spencer,” full of vim and vigor with each repetition of “There ain’t no liquor in this town. No there ain’t no liquor in this town,” with Billy swirling his hair around as he broke the song down. Air Mail Special on the Fly, by Leon Rusk, was among the highlights of the numerous covers, all made unique and brought into a new generation of bluegrass lovers.
“Be Your Man” gave a reference to the Big Apple with the line “When I got to New York City I was looking for another side of life”, followed by only the fifth version of the new “Escanaba,” named for a city in Billy Strings’ home state of Michigan. The set would close with “Away From the Mire,” a fan favorite, highlighted by bassist Royal Masat and a sparkly background, capped by Strings stepping out to the front of stage and playing to each side of the audience, closing the set on a highest of notes.
Set 2 would open with “Know it All,” followed by another traditional song – one made popular by The Dillards, Doc Watson, Bill Monroe, Jerry Garcia and David Grisman, “Shady Grove.” Spotting Santa Claus in the audience, Billy Strings dedicated “Just Because” by Nelstone’s Hawaiians, referencing Santa a few times in this nearly 100 year old song.
From there, “Blue Mule” again put Royal Masat’s bass prowess on display, giving a smooth jazz club vibe in appearance, presence and sound as the band broke down “Doin’ Things Right,” which included a jam on Led Zeppelin’s “Moby Dick,” then giving way to an outright cover of “Four Sticks” off Led Zeppelin IV, a jaw-dropping version.
Two mellower songs would follow – “Libby Phillips Rag,” and Ralph Stanley’s “A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy’s Grave.” The soft respite was no match for the finale of the set, a pairing of “Psycho” (Eddie Noack) and “Thunder,” which got very spacey and nearly found a backdoor into “St. Stephen” before calling it a night, huge applause cascading from the audience to the stage.
An appropriate encore of Bill Monroe’s “Christmas Time’s A-Coming” was a reminder of the season that awaited all in a week, and with Billy Strings getting ready to head back home to Nashville, Jimmy Martin’s “Tennessee” closed the night.
Billy Strings – Upstate Medical Arena at The Oncenter War Memorial, Syracuse – December 16, 2023
Set 1: Home, West Dakota Rose, Cabin Song > Down Yonder, Fire Line > Raleigh and Spencer, Ernest T. Grass > Air Mail Special on the Fly, Be Your Man, Escanaba, Away From the Mire Set 2: Know It All, Shady Grove, Along the Road, I’ll Be Gone a Long Time, Just Because, Long Forgotten Dream, Blue Mule, Doin’ Things Right, Four Sticks, Libby Phillips Rag, A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy’s Grave, Psycho > Thunder Encore: Christmas Time’s A-Coming, Tennessee
As the crescent moon descended over the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, Bob Weir & Wolf Bros delivered a compelling evening of music, marking the third show of their extended December 2023 residency.
Emerging from the rear of center stage, Bob Weir opened the evening solo with his rendition of “Peggy O.” A solitary figure with his guitar, Weir exuded a contemplative aura. Every note plucked and every word sung captivated theaudience, drawing them into the profound depths of his soul.
The five-night series harmoniously coincided with the festive season, capturing the joyous spirit of the holidays. With a twinkle in Weir’s eye and his beard all aglow, this musical Kris Kringle bestowed a plethora of gifts upon all the good boys and girls attending the sold-out show.
Enhancing the magical ambiance was a cadre of Santa’s musical helpers, featuring Don Was, Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti, as well as The Wolfpack (Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling, Sheldon Brown, Barry Sless), who graced the stage alongside Weir at different junctures throughout the evening, intensifying the magic.
The musical choices for the evening spanned a diverse range of origins, featuring both Weir’s original compositions and beloved Grateful Dead classics. Each song’s energy seamlessly flowed into the next, creating a dynamic musical journey.
Both sets featured compelling covers, including Kris Kristofferson’s “Me and Bobby McGee” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” broadening the musical scope of the evening. The band’s portrayal of Eddie Cooley’s “The Fever” transcended into a profound and soulful masterpiece. Bringing the night to a memorable conclusion, the band encored with the timeless classic, “Going Down the Road Feeling Bad.”
As the band bid farewell, the capacity crowd journeyed out into the darkness of the night. If anyone among them cast their gaze skyward, they might have captured the sound of a celestial symphony. Voices from above exalting ‘On Dead, on Ratdog, on Kingfish, on Company; Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Rock’n Night!’
Bob Weir and Wolf Bros., – Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – December 15, 2023
Set 1: Peggy-O, The Winners, Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Tennessee Jed, Odessa, Ramble On Rose, I Need a Miracle, Fever, U.S. Blues
Set 2: Me and Bobby McGee, Man Smart; Woman Smarter, Bertha, Cassidy, The Wheel, Eyes of the World, What’s Going On, Stella Blue, Not Fade Away
On December 15th, the indie-pop luminary mxmtoon/Maia wrapped up her “plum blossom (revisited) tour” in style at the cozy Roulette venue in Brooklyn, her adopted home. Despite her Bay Area origins, the artist warmly acknowledged the show as a second hometown gig, solidifying the special bond she shares with the Brooklyn crowd. The night was a whirlwind of distinctive moments, from a fan capturing the event with a 3DS to the collective knuckle-cracking orchestrated by Maia, showcasing both the uniqueness of her fanbase and her penchant for the offbeat.
In a touching moment, the emotional crescendo transpired during the performance of “Stuck.” Overwhelmed by a fan project featuring signs proclaiming “you are more than enough for us,” Maia paused and restarted the song, getting overwhelmed with emotion and tearing up a bit over the profound connection her music forms with her dedicated followers.
The concert became an interactive experience when Maia encouraged the audience to join her in a spirited rendition of “Prom Dress,” a poignant moment of shared emotion. Adding layers of sentimentality, Mxmtoon revealed that “Hong Kong” held a special place in her heart, as it was her mom’s favorite among all her compositions. The setlist, a carefully curated blend of fan favorites and surprises, included an unreleased jewel titled “Sarah,” a clever and quippy exploration of the concept of hate-watching YouTube videos.
The night unfolded as more than just a concert; it was a narrative journey with Maia providing glimpses into the stories behind her songs. The anecdote about “I Feel Like Chet,” a song where her youthful enunciation led to amusing misinterpretations (like “I feel like shit”), showcased her ability to infuse humor into her reflections. The concert concluded with an encore, featuring a cover of Vance Joy’s “Riptide,” cementing the evening as a nuanced exchange between artist and audience, leaving an indelible mark on all those present.
Legendary guitarist Bobby Weir of the Grateful Dead has wrapped up holdng a 5-night run at The Capitol Theatre with the Wolf Bros, featuring The Wolfpack.
The Wolfpack is made up of the Wolf Bros Don Was and Jay Lane, and Jeff Chimenti, who joined Wolf Bros in 2020 around the time of the forming of The Wolfpack, who are a string and brass quintet consisting of Adam Theis, Alex Kelly, Sheldon Brown, Brian Switzer, and Mads Tolling as well as Barry Sless on pedal steel.
The second night of the run, Wednesday, December 13, saw the night start off with just Bobby on stage playing an acoustic “Easy to Slip,” and was then joined by Jay & Don, still on acoustic, for a cowboy favorite, “El Paso.” Bobby switched to electric to play “Queen Jane Approximately” before Chimenti came out for a full electric “Hell in a Bucket,” a crowd favorite. The room was getting hot and The Wolfpack came out to play “The Music Never Stopped”, but for Bob Weir, the music has truly never stopped. The rest of set was joined by Ron Carter on stand up bass and featured a dark and psychedelic “Dark Star” and a roaring “Scarlet Begonias.”
Not bad at all for a Wednesday night! Spirits were high and the second set certainly delivered, starting off strong with “Throwing Stones.” Bobby’s vocals really shined on “Viola Lee Blues” and “Corrina.” This was followed by “Come Together,” an unexpected Beatles cover. Following were delightful symphonic renditions of “China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider,” featuring top notch horn solos accompanied with Bob’s iconic rhythm guitar playing.
Following was a dark and somber “Wharf Rat” with the absolutely iconic Bobby song, “Sugar Magnolia” following. Weir absolutely wails at one point in that song, delivered beautifully but being careful not to blow his voice out before the next three nights at the legendary Capitol Theatre.
The encore was a rather rare “Liberty,” masterfully delivered. The band took a bow and received a small banner stating “Warning: Genius at Work.” A true spectacle of a night, seeing the legendary Grateful Dead guitarist produce a unique soundscape with familiar material, brining the music to new places and keeping it fresh.
Bob Weir and Wolf Bros., – Capitol Theatre, Port Chester – December 13, 2023
Set 1: Easy to Slip, El Paso, Queen Jane Approximately, Hell in a Bucket, The Music Never Stopped, Easy Answers, Dark Star, Scarlet Begonias
Set 2: Throwing Stones, Viola Lee Blues, Corrina, Come Together, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Wharf Rat > Sugar Magnolia
Lifestyle and fashion brand Runaway New York celebrated their five year anniversary at Public Records on December 11 with Balu Brigada and Carlo Redl.
Runaway New York is a fashion and lifestyle brand owned by Jagger Walk, an American entrepreneur and designer. December 11 was a one of a kind celebration, marking the fifth anniversary and there was no better place to revel in the significant milestone. The evening was filled with remarkable live performances, drinks, and the opportunity to purchase exclusive merchandise. This exclusive night included music, style and a community that converged to create seamless enduring memories.
Opening artist Carlo Redl is a singer and songwriter based in Miami and Tokyo and regarded as the new “John Mayer” with a pop/R&B twist. Redl incorporates electric guitar and is influenced by 70s rock and classic jazz and heard within his riffs. As a songwriter, one of his many successes was the debut song “Gifted” which charted number one on Billboard Hot Trending.
Closing artist Balu Brigada is an alternative pop duo from New Zealand compromised of two brothers Henry and Pierre Beasley signed with Atlantic Records in 2022. They are now on their first homecoming tour which supports upcoming EP Find A Way with hit single “Designer” reaching over a million streams. Sibling duo began making music at an early age and officially formed Balu Brigada at the ripe age of 18. The multi-talented brothers have since gained huge recognition and honed their craft with inspired experimentation.
Carlo Redl and Balu Brigada interacted with the crowd to highlight the celebrated milestone for Jagger Walk and the Runaway New York fashion brand. Putting on quite the show for both fans of fashion, music, art and clearly a night to remember.
Fresh off a lengthy world tour, Interpol made their way back to New York for two hometown shows at Beacon Theatre on December 13 and 14. The band spent much of 2023 on the road, trekking across North America, Europe, and Australia before wrapping things up abroad with a big festival appearance at Maho Rasop in Thailand. After dazzling the New York faithful on the Upper West Side, Interpol head down I95 for three intimate sold out shows at D.C.s 9:30 Club next week.
Interpol released their seventh LP, The Other Side of Make-Believe, back in 2022 and have been touring regularly behind the record ever since. The band puts on a master class in staying true to their iconic sound while still pushing boundaries and making exciting new music that seamlessly expands their live palate. Songs from the last record stand toe to toe with the band’s timeless classics from their 2002 debut Turn On The Bright Lights. Kicking things off with the immortalized opening track “Untitled”, Interpol’s signature style reverberated around the iconic Beacon Theatre and ignited the crowd. As the boys moved through a career-spanning setlist, the crowd hung on every note, rarely returning to their seats until theater personnel eventually did turn on the bright lights.
Just ahead of the release of The Other Side Of Make Believe in 2022, Interpol hit Brooklyn’s Kings Theatre to preview the record. A year apart, the shows at Kings and Beacon had similar setlists yet were still surprising and attention grabbing without ever feeling dull. From the opening notes of “Untitled” to the final, soaring vocals of “PDA”, the crowd at Beacon was hanging on every note as if we were all experiencing an Interpol concert for the first time again. The magic behind a band like Interpol is always making fans feel like first timers, even after two decades of playing the hits.
Interpol have a special relationship with New York City. Not only is it the city the band was made in, but the city itself is their muse. Turn On The Bright Lights is a love affair with the New York, creating a cathartic experience for the band as well as the audience whenever they play the songs live. Whenever Interpol schedule dates around the city, we are drawn to another performance no matter how many times we have already had it.
After the shows in D.C., the band take a well-earned break before a busy festival season in 2024. Check out our photo gallery from Beacon Theatre below and head over to Interpol’s website for future tour dates.
After having a successful year in the movie Barbie as the “weird Barbie,” former SNL cast member Kate McKinnon hosts this year’s holiday episode, with pop icon Billie Eilish as the musical guest.
In true SNLfashion, the cold open focused on an award show called the Christmas Awards, just in time for the holiday season. No stranger to the cold open, Bowen Yang and Heidi Gardner take the role of the award hosts for the evening. The sketch brought the cast together poking fun at Christmas stereotypes, with the bad gift giver that is grandma, and the one relative who brings COVID to the party.
https://youtu.be/mjHV7uAq5fU
Kate McKinnon’s monologue saw her joking about being back at her “old job” at SNL, taking the seat as host tonight, and how uncomfortable she is being herself instead of the weird girl standing next to the hot person. She brought out the piano for a cheery tune, creating a parody of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” stating she was forced to sing. Iconic actors Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig made an appearance, singing the monologue away.
https://youtu.be/xZmFyCTNrPs?si=WFHCksdjqCieZKUS
The next sketch took place at the North Pole, with elves as news anchors, set on the scene of a killer whale attack. Featuring Kate McKinnon as a scared Scot, it showcases how people always take to social media to write thoughts and prayers during a crisis in a silly yet real manner. Making fun of the fact that kids always want dogs for Christmas, SNL created a satirical infomercial with Pongo!, the perfect pet that doesn’t do anything or dies.
No one will ever forget about the iconic group ABBA, and returning to the screen are Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig, with Kate McKinnon and Bowen Yang performing as the group, not missing a chance to do their best Swedish accent impression. Taking their greatest hits, the ABBA parody group remixed their hits, adding Christmas themes. The sketch was full of the cast breaking character, making it even more funny.
Kate McKinnon brings back her singing with Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig again, creating a country tune about Tampon Farm, a fictional place where women grow and harvest tampons. No one could have seen that twist coming, with the audience erupting into a fit of laughter.
Billie Eilish needs no introduction, the pop icon had a successful year with just one song officially announced, “What Was I Made For?” on the Barbie soundtrack. With severalGRAMMY nominations at this year’s award ceremony, and even a Golden Globe nomination for her small role in SWARM, Eilish is just getting started. Just the other night on The Tonight Show, she teased she is working on her next album, with more TBA soon.
Introducing her were McKinnon and in a surprising twist, Greta Gerwig, the director of Barbie. Billie Eilish sang her hit “What Was I Made For,” with her signature breathy vocals, singing on a stool with her brother Finneas playing piano. With a beautifully added string section and accompanying videos of “girlhood” in the background, the song could bring a tear to anybody’s eye and certainly did mine.
https://youtu.be/mkqTsLVHwuQ
The Weekend Update tradition of Michael Che and Colin Jost reading each other’s jokes did not disappoint this year. Each joke was raunchier than the last, leaving most with their jaws hanging wide open.
Billie Eilish ended her SNL appearance with a haunting cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” showcasing her soulful and powerful vocals. During the last sketch, she joined McKinnon cosplaying as crazy cat ladies, showing off several cats.
Just announced on Jan. 20 is Euphoria and Priscilla actor Jacob Elordi hosting, with musical guest Reneé Rapp.
During a famous MTV Unplugged performance, Kurt Cobain once sarcastically asked, “What are they tuning, a harp?” His tone somewhat mocking of the instrument, as if it had no place in his rock n’ roll world. For a long while, I may have thought the same thing too, but then a funny thing happened to me on Thursday, December 7.
That was the night I saw Mikaela Davis and Southern Star perform at Lark Hall in Albany for the first time. Armed with a six-foot-tall harp, a bold voice, and a certain element of mystique, the classically trained harp player-turned-folk rocker completely redefined everything I thought I knew about the instrument, simultaneously shattering whatever limitations my mind may have placed on it.
Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made their Lark Hall debut on December 7th, 2023.
Captivating the audience with a dreamy blend of psychedelic pop, driving folk rock, and a healthy dose of sonic improvisation, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star simply dazzled in Albany. A long-time believer in the group, Greg Bell of Guthrie Bell Productions has often said this is one of his favorite acts and has been bringing them to the Capital Region for years now. Regularly making stops at venues like The Hollow and Putnum Place, this night would mark their graduation to the historic room of Lark Hall. Delivering a dynamic, genre-bending performance full of emotion, beauty, and star-making energy, it was easy to see what all the hype over the talented harp-playing singer and her incredible band was all about.
Originally formed in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star have been playing together for over a decade. Notably sharing the stage with the likes of Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Bon Iver, and Circles Around the Sun, the group released their first full-length album as a band, And Southern Star, in August of this year and it’s already showing up on many of the “year’s best” lists. Focusing much of the show on its material, the multi-layered improvisation that also came from it was nothing short of a breath of fresh air and a major reason why they’ve been so warmly embraced by the extended jam band community.
Home in the Country: Mikaela Davis and Souther Star made themselves at home in Albany on 12/7/23.
Casually kicking things off with the melodic one-two punch of “Cinderella” and “In My Groove,” Mikaela Davis and Southern Star had Lark Hall’s undivided attention from the very start. Along with Davis, Southern Star also consists of the McCarthy brothers, Cian on guitar and sax and Shane on bass, Alex Cote on drums, and the talented Kurt Johnson on pedal and lap steel.
Keeping things going, the infectious single called “Home in the Country” was an early set highlight, as was watching Johnson’s incredible dexterity as he employed a litany of effects and knob turning to his pedal steel rig to create all kinds of subtle textures to accent Davis’s delectate harp in the most sophisticated way.
Kurt Johnson of Southern Star had his hands full on pedal and lap steel on 12/7/23.
After a bit of funky plucking on 2018’s “Get Gone”, “Far From You” would cross over into a more euphoric fairytale-type feel before landing on what would ultimately be the centerpiece of the show, an enchanting and transformative take on the Grateful Dead’s “Here Comes Sunshine.” Showcasing their propensity to improvise just as Garcia and company famously did, the stunning arrangement felt right at home at Lark Hall, a venue that recently expanded to include a Dead-inspired wine and coffee bar downstairs dubbed The Eleven. The lengthy rendition commanded your attention and was enough to win over any of the Heads in the audience who still weren’t sure of the greatness happening before our ears and eyes.
Here Comes Sunshine: Mikaela Davis and Southern Star wowed the Lark Hall crowd with their Grateful Dead cover on 12/7/23.
What started as a chilled-out version of “Leave it Alone” soon boiled over into blues-rock territory before seamlessly finding the opening chords of “Promise,” the second single from And Southern Star. With the crowd fully engaged and swaying to the up-tempo vibe and colorful riffs, the band’s synergy and skill were on full display. As the momentum continued to build, perhaps the most “rockin’” song of the night came next with a jammed-out version of “Don’t Stop Now,” featuring one of multi-instrumentalist Cian McCarthy’s best solos of the night.
Pausing to thank the audience for coming out and commenting on how nice it was to be playing Lark Hall for the first time, Mikaela then broke the news that she’s already looking forward to coming back in a few months with her pals (and fellow 2023 Lark Hall alumni), Circles Around the Sun.
Talking from the heart about how special it is to play music live, she also mentioned the best way to directly support touring artists is by picking up some of their merch at the gigs. Davis and Southern Star would then bring the main portion of the show to a close with a beautiful rendition of “Pure Divine Love,” before returning for a luscious encore of “Other Lover” from Mikaela’s debut 2018 album, Delivery.
After wrapping up their final show of the year with a hometown throwdown in Rochester, Mikaela Davis and Southern Star already have their sights firmly set on 2024. The band has just announced a full slate of new tour dates alongside psychedelic, Dead-inspired prog jammers Circles Around Sun. The collaborative tour is set to feature several New York dates with stops at Brooklyn Bowl, Ithaca’s Deep Dive, and Buffalo Iron Works.
Mikaela Davis | December 7, 2023 | Lark Hall | Albany, NY
Setlist: Cinderella > In My Groove, Home in the Country, Get Gone, Far From You, Here Comes Sunshine, Leave it Alone > Promise, Don’t Stop Now, Pure Divine Love
Returning to the vibrant heart of New York City, Stephen Sanchez brought his magnetic presence back to the city that never sleeps, echoing his last unforgettable performance at Irving Plaza in February. The anticipation hung in the air as fans, eagerly awaiting this reunion, gathered at Terminal 5.
Sanchez’s return was not just a concert; it was a homecoming, a testament to the enduring connection between the artist and the city that has played witness to his musical evolution. As the first notes reverberated through the venue, it was evident that this wasn’t merely a performance; it was a celebration of the artist’s journey, marked by growth, passion, and a profound connection with the diverse tapestry of New York’s music-loving community.
Stephen Sanchez’s concert at Terminal 5 unfolded as a captivating saga, weaving together the artist’s soulful melodies and a profound connection with his dedicated fanbase. Earlier in the day, Sanchez set the tone with a fan meetup and popup in Brooklyn, creating an intimate space for admirers to engage with the artist whose music had become the soundtrack to their lives.
As the night descended, Terminal 5 pulsed with anticipation. The setlist, featuring gems like “Something About Her” and “I Need You Most of All,” became a tapestry of emotions, each note echoing the artist’s journey. Sanchez’s stage presence was magnetic, drawing the audience into his world, especially the adoring fangirls who swooned with every nuanced movement. The unexpected covers of “Oh, Pretty Woman” and “Unchained Melody” showcased Sanchez’s ability to infuse timeless classics with his unique, soul-stirring style.
The concert reached its zenith during the spirited performance of “Shake,” where the venue echoed with the energy of both the artist and his ardent fans. The soulful ballad “Death of the Troubadour” revealed the depth of Sanchez’s songwriting, creating a poignant contrast in the midst of energetic numbers. The night concluded on an emotional crescendo with “Until I Found You,” leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of those who witnessed Sanchez’s musical brilliance. This wasn’t just a concert; it was an immersive experience, a testament to the profound connection between an artist and the community that cherishes his every note.
Setlist: Something About Her, Evangeline, I Need You Most of All, Only Girl, No One Knows, Doesn’t Do Me Any Good, Be More, [Oh, Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison cover)], High, Shake, Death of the Troubadour, Send My Heart With a Kiss, Howlin’ At Wolves, Unchained Melody (Hy Zaret & Alex North cover), The Pool, Until I Found You
