It’s a real sign of talent when you manage to convert people (namely, me) into fans with just one set.
Sheppard did that and then some. Despite having technical issues that resulted in the entire show ending an hour later than it was meant to, the Australian six-piece brought a party to Webster Hall’s Marlin Room on Wednesday night (July 22).
UK pop/rock band Lawson kicked things off, performing a thrilling set with some of their most popular singles, including “Standing in the Dark,” Brokenhearted,” and “When She Was Mine.” They also performed a few of their brand new releases, including a certified anthem called “We Are The Kings,” that (hint, HINT) should absolutely be a single.
It’s all a precursor to a forthcoming U.S. EP release. I, for one, am excited for
The band, consisting of Andy Brown, Adam Pitts, Ryan Fletcher, and Joel Peats, haven’t performed in NY for a couple of years, so they may not have known what to expect. However, they had the entire room jumping after just one song. Without a doubt, they set the atmosphere for the show.
They were followed by Say It! Say It!, who performed a few pop/rock songs that are sure to make their way onto radio at some point soon. One of the highlights of their set was a cover of All-American Rejects’ “Dirty Little Secret” which, of course, got the crowd head-banging along.
A few minutes afterwards, Amy Sheppard’s bright, stunning turquoise hair came into view as she walked onstage with her bandmates, fellow lead singer (and brother) George, bassist (and sister) Emma, lead guitarist Michael, rhythm guitarist Jason, and drummer Dean.
Two words came to mind during their set: high energy. It was incredible.
Not to mention those harmonies! Those can either make or break a song in many cases, but their vocals blended like magic. My ears were quite pleased.
The crowd, which had filled out significantly as their performance approached, were clearly Sheppard concert veterans, singing along at the top of their lungs to every song and shaking the hardwood floors. George kept the crowd involved with a constant stream of one-liners, and even some one-on-one interaction with those closest to him.
The set list included “Halfway to Hell,” “Flying Away,” “Something’s Missing,” Smile,” and more. They finished things off with fan-favorite “Geronimo.”
“Let Me Down” sold me, hands down. It has an underlying soulful vibe
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while still carrying that refreshing pop sound which is almost difficult to define–one thing’s for sure, though, it’s uniquely Sheppard.
If that was a tour opener, I can imagine the upcoming shows are going to result in some serious buzz in the U.S. market for these musicians.
Check out their latest album, Bombs Away, on iTunes right now.
For more on Sheppard, including tickets to future tour dates, check out their official website.
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