Photo/Denise Guerin
Review/Jill Thomas
Tarrytown Musical Hall is a great gem in the heart of Westchester that provides the perfect opportunity for an intimate concert. The sound quality is always fantastic. The lighting is well done. The performers are fully invested and interacting with the audience. Often times in this classic theatre, every soul in the hall feels like they’re experiencing a private concert in their homes designed just for them. It’s the equivalent of having your big headphones on and lying on your bed listening to a favorite album from start to finish. Amos Lee? Well, he was made for this place, and the fans felt it last Friday evening.
Mikaela Davis began the show. This talented young woman took to the stage with her harp, reminding me of how Tori Amos broke the unusual mold back in the 90s as “the girl and her piano”. Mikaela’s melodic voice accompanied the harp is soft whimsy. She ranged from the expected romantic feels of the harp, to these upbeat songs that caught me happily by surprise. This local artist, who hails from the Catskills, brought some beautifully crafted songs to our ears, and opened our music world up to the possibilities of what preconceived “harp” music can be in the 2020s era. She ended her set with the band accompanying to play a soulful jazz infused piece. I am officially a fan of this rising star, and encourage others to check out her music.
Lee and his band took us on a journey of emotions right from the get go. Between our beloved favorites to the music from his forthcoming album, we had the pleasure to experience the magic of his lyrics and compositions. He surprised us with quite a few covers. His version of “Zombie” by the Cranberries had a very Radiohead “Creep” style to it that I absolutely fell for! He snuck in “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac so perfectly into his middle verse of “Violin”. It felt as if “Landslide” belonged there the whole time. As the night carried on, the harder rock songs emerged, and we sung our little hearts out to the explicit lyrics of Rage Against The Machine that he peppered into his setlist.
Throughout the show, Lee took the opportunity to chat with the audience. He told us the heartwarming back stories of songs about people in his life who inspired him thru the their hardships. As a listener, I find myself bonding to songs even more when the artist takes the time to let us in to the creative inspiration for the song. It gives it a tangible purpose, bringing it truly to life on stage. The trust he gave to his audience, we reciprocated in shouts of appreciation. He allowed us to be a part of his music.
Amos new album Transmission has some incredible songs on it. My personal favorite is “Hold On Tight”. The song writing brings to mind the kind of magic he captured in “Windows are Rolled Down”. In unison, the lyrics and the structure of the track build in an uplifting crescendo. I found my mind humming it on my way home.
The band was an ensemble of multi talents. Song after song, we were delighted with their harmonies. Each member had their moments to shine. Lee took the time to showcase each and every one throughout the night, allowing us to embrace their voices with all our enthusiasm.
