{"id":3510,"date":"2022-05-09T01:49:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-09T00:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roglacup.com\/klaus62\/?p=3510"},"modified":"2022-04-18T10:55:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T09:55:20","slug":"morning-songgregory-alan-isakov-the-stable-song","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/roglacup.com\/klaus62\/2022\/05\/09\/morning-songgregory-alan-isakov-the-stable-song\/","title":{"rendered":"Morning song#Gregory Alan Isakov #The Stable Song"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Five singers huddled around a single microphone with a banjo, fiddle, upright bass and acoustic guitars isn\u2019t the type of performance you\u2019d expect to see at venue known for launching punk rock and new wave. But Gregory Alan Isakov is an unconventional musician himself as he\u2019s also a full-time farmer in Colorado, and his sold-out show brought fans together from across the state and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isakov, a singer-songwriter from South Africa, is known for his folk hits such as \u201cThe Stable Song,\u201d \u201cBig Black Car\u201d and \u201cSaint Valentine,\u201d and his sold-out show on Nov. 13 is a testament to both his talent and dedicated fan base. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under a revolving, silver disco ball, glitter-covered stars and string lights which were strung across the room, fans packed into the small venue wearing  layered clothing to ward off the evening\u2019s 30-degree weather. The steady, anticipatory conversation which filled the space was soon replaced by the soulful voice of opener Luke Sital-Singh, a singer-songwriter from the United Kingdom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sital-Singh\u2019s eyes, framed by clear glasses, looked out over the crowd as he introduced himself as the person who would be warming them up by playing \u201cfucking sad songs.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Singh\u2019s performance of songs such as \u201cLos Angeles\u201d and  \u201cNothing Stays the Same\u201d elicited cheers. After playing \u201cRaise Well,\u201d a song about being scared to become a father, someone from the crowd yelled to \u201cjust have a kid already,\u201d which made both musician and audience laugh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It wasn\u2019t long after Sital-Singh\u2019s six-song set that Isakov and his band walked onto the stage to the clapping, cheers and whistles of the audience. A moving solo by violinist Jeb Bows<\/a> reverberated across the stage as the familiar words from \u201cDandelion Wine\u201d emerged from the moving strains of the instrument. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cOh man, it feels so good to be here, thank you so much,\u201d Isakov said, his eyes shaded by the brim of a brown hat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a previous Q&A with The Red & Black<\/a>, Isakov said he likes to wear a hat to keep the light out of his eyes so he can focus on the words to all of his songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isakov played a combination of old favorites and songs off his 2018 album \u201cEvening Machines,\u201d such as \u201cSan Luis,\u201d which currently has over 20 million listens on Spotify, to the upbeat song ironically titled, \u201cDark, Dark, Dark.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternating red, blue, and yellow lights danced off the faces of the band members as they performed the title track to the 2009 album, \u201cThis Empty Northern Hemisphere\u201d which is one of Isakov\u2019s most rock-inspired songs. The energy in the room reached a high with whistles and cheers as the strong bass and drum line shook the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Lauren Connell, a senior art major at the University of North Georgia, this was her favorite performance in the show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just so hard-hitting,\u201d Connell said. \u201cThere\u2019s so many different elements that they bring into it that\u2019s not on the original recording so it just feels really atmospheric.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connell first discovered Isakov on Pandora and said his music helped her get through her freshman year of college. She\u2019s seen Isakov perform five other times and said \u201cevery single one is different in their own ways\u201d but that each show has been \u201camazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike many musicians, Isakov stood alongside the rest of his band instead of front and center for the majority of the performance. About halfway through the show, however, Isakov and the other four members moved to the front of the stage to gather around a single microphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m so excited to be at the 40 Watt, this is a dream,\u201d Isakov said before diving into acoustic renditions of \u201cTime Will Tell\u201d and \u201cSaint Valentine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isakov also called up Sital-Singh on stage to perform Bruce Springsteen\u2019s \u201cThe Ghost of Tom Joad,\u201d which blended together voices and the sounds of both acoustic and electric guitar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Sital-Singh left the stage, Isakov stood alone with a single spotlight shining warm, yellow down on him. His solo performance of \u201cShe Always Takes It Black\u201d from his 2013 album \u201cThe Weatherman\u201d showcased not only his talent as a singer, but as a songwriter as well. Before you could see them, the sounds of a bass, drums and violin began to play and the stage lights turned up as the band seamlessly transitioned into \u201cAmsterdam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the show, Isakov would often step away from the microphone and out of the spotlight to let the other musicians and instruments shine through. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isakov\u2019s performance of \u201cThe Stable Song\u201d with banjo player Steve Varney, had the audience softly singing the familiar lyrics as the two musicians played off each other and let their voices and instruments meld together.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final song, \u201cAll Shades of Blue\u201d featured all the artists, including Sital-Singh, back around the lone microphone again as they belted out the lyrics and showcased their love for making music. At the end, attendees lifted their voices and drinks in salute as Isakov, Sital-Singh and the rest of the band as they bowed together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s very down to earth, especially with his lyrics,\u201d  Connell said. \u201cIt feels like he tries really hard to connect the real world and nature and emotions deeply more than the regular music you see nowadays.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brent Shuman, a graduate student studying fungal biology at the University of Georgia, said while he\u2019s been listening to Isakov\u2019s music for three years, this was his first time seeing him in person. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt felt like a full body experience because the bass was so punchy and [Isakov\u2019s] vocals<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Posted from: https:\/\/www.redandblack.com\/culture\/a-change-of-tune-gregory-alan-isakov-brings-folk-to-sold-out-40-watt-club\/article_e9ab8636-06ac-11ea-b152-8fdf91dbb46f.html<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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