This was a while back (as all of my posts are nowadays), on June 21. However, I just wrote a concert review for my core music class not too long ago and I still want to talk about my experience. (Excuse the poor quality of my photos. I took them on my phone camera.)
I went to see Jon McLaughlin headlining at the Gramercy Theatre that day. I still remember how hot it was. The hottest day up till then. Luckily though, it wasn’t too hot when I was waiting on line. I’ve been to one other concert, back in November last year for his album “Forever If Ever.” It was AMAZING. For days and weeks after, all I felt like listening to was Jon McLaughlin. Then, he released “Promising Promises,” under a new label. This album contains basically all the same songs as the last, plus three. Therefore, the concert was probably going to be similar. But, who cares! I thought. I just love listening and watching him live. It is an experience.
Things didn’t go so well. For the first time in my small venue concert experience, the guards checked my bag. AND they would not let me bring in my water bottle even though it wasn’t open. The seal was completely intact. So sad. I had two bottles so I finished the first one right in front of them and then sadly threw out the brand new one. When I think back, I should have opened it and drank half of it. I had the stomach and bladder for it.
Enter and I discovered that I could choose to stand in the front or stand in the back. My friends and I decided to stand. We were second row from the stage. I somehow always manage to stand this close to the stage. It’s great. The wait was extremely long. My feet were tired. But I was excited.
First act: Bobbie Lee Stamper, Jon McLaughlin’s guitarist and banjo player. He was alright. I found his music to be a bit dull for my mood. (I was really in the mood for loud, upbeat music.) He did have some good songs, however, the whole time, I was distracted by the loud noises from the audience. I don’t know if it was because Stamper was only playing with minimal instruments, but whatever, the audience was completely rude. There was incessant chattering throughout his entire act! It really bothered me.
Next was Mikey Wax and his percussionist guest, Andrew Weber. His songs were more energizing. He also played with only a few instruments. So, you could still hear the audience while he was playing. But, I think that there was a sizable number of people who came to the show to see him. Therefore, there was a friendlier welcome. I like how both Wax and Stamper encouraged the audience to sing-along. One of the best parts of Wax’s act was when he asked the audience to sing “F*ck You” by Ceelo Green with him. It was hilarious and really enlivening.
Then, the stage crew went to set up the stage and sound for McLaughlin and band. It felt like forever. And I’m a pretty patient person. I don’t remember the wait between opening act and main act being this long before. But when McLaughlin came on stage, the crowd went wild. Whoo! (Unfortunately though, there was a really tall boy blocking my view the rest of the time :( Bah humbug!)
He began with a new song (that I admittedly had never listened to until then), “Falling. “The girls in front of me were really enthusiastic. One of them was practically shouting the lyrics so that when McLaughlin ended a line softly, her voice was very audible. How embarrassing, for her that is. Comparing this opening to the opening in his November concert, I much 
preferred the November’s. Last time, he opened with “Beating My Heart,” a really loud, upbeat, and energetic song. I thought it made for a better show-starter because it got everyone pumped. “Falling,” on the other hand, was semi-slow. Next, he performed “The Atmosphere,” another new and even slower song (that I had not listened to). He picked the mood up with “Industry,” a song from an earlier album, and then went into the fantastic, “Without You Now.” This song always makes me want to sway my body, shake my head, and sing along. Following were the slower “Maybe It’s Over,” the even slower “If Only I,” and the medium-slow “Amelia’s Missing.” Totally different vibe. But amazing nonetheless. Then the next song was one of my concert favorites: “Beating My Heart.” Jon McLaughlin’s stage presence is energetic and riveting. He really knows how to make a crowd happy. After this, he broke into a small monologue about his next song, “What I Want,” which he calls his only angry song. This song particularly highlights his wider vocal range. After was “Things That You Say,” “Summer is Over,” and “Why I’m Talking To You.” For “Summer is Over,” he plays the harmonica and the keyboard at the same time and then quickly alternates his harmonica playing with singing. Very impressive. (Also preceding this song, he gave a brief and funny story about the featuring of Xena on this track.) 
The last song, “Promising Promises,” though was the one I was waiting for. McLaughlin’s brilliant piano solo during the bridge is so compelling. He plays each note quickly yet intensely. One of my favorite things about him, besides his spectacular vocals, is how he plays the piano. He either crouches down almost eye-level with the keys, practically touching them with his face, and focuses intensely at the instrument while playing or he sits upright and jerks his body, simultaneously making odd expressions, each time he hits a key. It’s a good thing he added significant piano solos to introduce many of his songs.
A round of never-ending applause. Well, as never-ending as applauses can be in concerts. Afterwards, for the encore, McLaughlin alone returned to the stage. He sat by the keyboard and played Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind,” in honor of the city of the night. And, to contrast, he played his “Indiana,” a nod to his hometown. The ending was very mellow and soothing almost. I found this to be an interesting way to wrap up the concert. Instead of going for a kind of feel-good song, he went for a somber choice.
Afterwards, I stood on a line to get to the merchandise tables. A line that went outside the building! And the guards manning the line were rude! They talked harshly and were quick to jump at me for things I did that weren’t even wrong or intentional. Hmph! Not a good experience with Gramercy Theatre, but hey, you win some you lose some. Only a few people were allowed in at a time and everyone got to meet Mikey Wax, Jon McLaughlin, and Bobbie Lee Stamper, each 
standing by their merchandise. Anyone who made it to the tables got to actually have a brief conversation with McLaughlin and he signed posters, CDs, etc. However, (I don’t know if it was him who requested this) no photos were allowed. Unfortunately. But I’m not all that interested in taking pictures with celebrities. It’s just not in my interest really. This was my second time meeting him and things have not changed since the first time. I didn’t know what to say. I never do. He’s a really nice guy, but I just find it difficult to carry small talk with him. Maybe it’s because we don’t have much in common, maybe I was starstruck, maybe I felt pressed for time, or maybe I just suck at small talk. But you know, talk about museums, art history, books, school and I’m all in. I noticed at the tables a lonely Mikey Wax (because everyone just passed by him when they flocked straight to McLaughlin). And while my sister was waiting to get an autograph from McLaughlin, the ladies gave me change for my twenty and told me that with my change I can buy a Bobby Lee Stamper album. Quickly, I said no thank you. And Stamper, who just so happened to be standing right there, said “Oh come on! You say that right while I’m here?” “Sorry,” I replied. Awkward situation.
At the Bowery Ballroom back in November, I went down to the bar to exit the venue and hung around for a bit, looking for the merchandise table. Well, I found it. And I found McLaughlin too! So I bought a poster and went up to him. He was just hanging around by the lounge chairs surrounding the bar, talking to his bandmates. He signed it, 
and with my name (unlike at the Gramercy Theatre where he just signed his name)! He even took pictures with his fans. And there was no line. Everything was a lot more low-key and different feel so structured. And therefore, in my opinion, felt more like a genuine experience. Like the cherry on top of an excellent night. And the concert last time, in comparison with this time’s, felt more exciting and fun. Three possible explanations: (1) the main act last time, Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, were phenomenal and really excellent musicians (especially on stage – I barely knew of them before the concert and they sold me right then and there), making for an amazing experience, (2) since McLaughlin’s new album is basically the same as the last (content-wise), his concerts featured the same songs and therefore, I had already experienced it, making the second time less wowing, or (3) the November concert was my first legitimate concert and because it exceeded my expectations, all the concerts I’ve gone to since pale in comparison.
Overall: Jon McLaughlin never ceases to amaze me live. And like true musicians, his studio-recorded music is nothing compared to his live performances.
