Greg Holden--awesome voice, great songs. The audience wasn't being incredibly supportive to this supporting act, but he was great. Cute little cover of "Walkin on Sunshine" brought the "aw" factor and gave us something to sing along to, for those who need that sort of thing.
Greg Laswell--amazing. Just stunning. You can't help but be silent and listen when this man sings. Great songs, awesome musicianship, cool vibe and cool guy. And I think he's married to Ingrid. If they're not married, I'd be surprised.
Ingrid Michaelson--love her. Just love the songs, the writing, the arrangements, and she is one of the funniest performers I've ever seen. She's witty and hysterical, calm and cool and completely comfortable on stage. She commands the audience. The new album is fantastic and I was really stoked to see her. Having said that, the band's energy was a bit off because Ally Moss lost her voice and couldn't sing, cutting out half of the harmonies that we've all come to love and rely on in Ingrid's arrangements. The Recher is a bit ghetto, pealing paint, tacky decor, and tiny set up--the monitors were feeding back, ear monitors weren't doing their job, and the lighting was completely distracting. These are things the artists played through seamlessly, but didn't reflect well on the venue. The the place is really small, so that's awesome.
What is the deal with people going to concerts and singing at the top of their lungs to every word of every song the entire time? I couldn't believe it. I couldn't tell if it was a teeny-bopper thing, or an Ingrid-fan thing or what. Seems like younger kids sing at concerts more than they used to, and it bugs the crap out of everyone I've talked to. There were so many times when I couldn't hear the lead vocals because the audience was singing. I know every word too, but I don't come to a concert to hear myself and people I don't know sing (or whatever you call that), that's what my car is for. I paid to hear the performer sing her songs the way she wants to sing them, not hear other people sing over her and lock her into singing the songs exactly like the record, making it nearly impossible for her to express her self in the moment. Which is the reason I go to live shows, for the LIVE experience and to receive the expression of the artist. People, please, for the love, don't sing at concerts unless the artist invites you too. Ingrid gives plenty of opportunity for sing alongs, shout backs, and audience participation. Why would you pay to drown her out?
