by Daniel Harris end note by Gypsy
Photos by: Nocturnal Charm
While Baltimore may not be thought of a city for great acts to perform, 24-7 Entertainment and Baltimore Soundstage is doing what it can to quickly change that perception.
This past Friday, the Marketplace venue was blessed host to two powerful, sultry, dazzling artists in Alice Smith and Lianne La Havas. Aside from two amazing performances, what was most intriguing about the night was the composition of the crowd.
The concert was open to all ages and that's exactly what the crowd consisted of. Those under 21 were represented very well. In fact, it seemed as if they made up the majority of the crowd. It was quite inspiring. There are a lot of notions about those under 21 and their music selections these days. Many major labels seem to think that if it doesn't have a catchy hook or repetitive beat, this group will not support. Observing the crowd last Friday, it may be in the best interest of some labels to reevaluate their notion.
The show starts and the place erupted with cheer for Alice Smith as she took the stage. Judging from the expression on her face, it really took her by surprise. No full band, no instrumental tracks, no DJ; Alice took the stage with an acoustic guitar player and her booming voice.
Her setup proved to be the perfect means to get lost in her music. Alice is a pure singer and her lyrical content was not overshadowed by her singing ability. As she was singing, it was apparent that she possess the ability to draw listeners in to the raw emotion of her music.
Lianne delivers her music with intense passion, connecting with her audience on a very real level. Setting up to perform "Forget", she let the crowd know that their singing of the hook needed to be as angry as possible to really express the emotion of the song. In fact, throughout the night, Lianne seemed unashamed to share many of her life experiences through her music.
Her vocal abilities are equally matched by her incredible talents as a musician. It is a well known fact that she has the talent to play guitar. Her album "Is Your Love Big Enough?" did a great job to highlight her talent with songs like "They Could Be Wrong" and "Age". However, during her live performance, she showed the audience that her skill set goes way beyond just being able to merely play guitar. Lianne La Havas is a rocker in every sense of the word!
Thanks to the efforts of groups like 24-7 Entertainment and Baltimore Soundstage, the Charm City is quickly on the rise to host more amazing shows like this one. Thank you to the Baltimore Soundstage for the access.
To view more pictures for the show please click HERE
Gypsy Note:
Ive seen many shows and heard many artists perform but this was one of the best musical experiences I have ever participated in. I say participate because there is a giving and a taking done by both the artists and the audience during a live show such as this where the artists are so vulnerable and raw. After being a fan for so long of Alice Smith it was fulfilling to be able to FINALLY see her live and to experience what I hear in my car or all over my house was incredible. To add to the night the beautiful voice of one of my new favorites, Lianne La Havas made for an unforgettable evening. Not to mention they both were sweet as pie and incredibly gracious. Imagine if these ladies were played on the radio here in Baltimore, imagine how the things were hear might change the things we do...how substantive music on the airwaves might change the culture of a city...
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