Jesse Colin Young
Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center
August 2, 2018
Jesse Colin Young and his band of young performers including his son gave the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center aka “The Kate” audience a wonderful performance. The sold out theater was welcoming of the group and the beautifully intimate venue with only 250 seats lends itself to a warm interaction of audience and performers.
Young is one of those artists from the 60’s era of music who had two choices. One is to go out and tour resting on the laurels of well known often performed hits that many audiences come to expect. The second option, which is the one Young has chosen, is to surround yourself with a young band with fresh ideas and expectations. When that option is chosen the opportunities for new sounds and updated concerts are endless.
He chose an option allowing him to get creative and write new songs that include the sounds of his eight member band. The songs he now pens include compositions with music for the regular guitar, bass and acoustic guitar along with saxophone and backup singers. His songs now have a wider range and vision. An added bonus is that his voice sounds better than ever and he hit the highest hardest to reach notes with ease and clarity and a new breath of life.
There are those in the audience who will always request and expect the older standards that Young is known for in his past. He obliges them with a few of those but doesn’t fill the entire show with older songs. He showcases his new songs to a receptive audience and judging by the reaction of the crowd he is successful at this arrangement.
The concert is separated into two acts. The first act was Young onstage solo with an acoustic guitar for five songs. After a short intermission he returns with the full band and they pump up the tempo and the sound.
His band consists of Jesse Colin Young – Lead Vocals and Acoustic Guitar, Virginia Garcia Alves – Backup Vocals, Sally Stempler – Backup Vocals, Aleif Hamdan – Lead Guitar, Jack Sheehan – Saxophone, Tristan Young – Bass, Jenn Hwan Wong – Keyboard and Donnie Hogue – Drums.
They have a new coming out on BMG on November 6th and it’s called DREAMERS. It was recorded in Nashville TN in March at Sound Emporium Studio A and Oceanway Studios and produced by Colin Linden. The release will be on election day of all days. Kind of an ironic date considering he was first singing and playing during the turbulent times of the Vietnam War with all of the protests and political involvement by the young men and women. Many of those of that age who his audience in the 60’s still are today. But, politics are ever present and times they are always changing and it happens the release comes at a time when there is another intense focus on government and politics. Coincidence? Planned that way? Who knows but it memorable day for an album release nonetheless.
The Jessie Colin Young Band has been performing together for a couple of years now and what started out as a fledgeling group joining the more experienced Young has now gotten their feet firmly on the ground. They put on a solid and very entertaining show and their abilities shined clearly in every song. Though Young is the leader of the band the entire ensemble has gained so much confidence since I last saw them and it clearly shows. I would see this band again without hesitation. If you get the chance do take in Jessie Colin Young live do so you will be happy you did.
http://www.jessecolinyoung.com
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
JCY Solo Setlist:
Sugarbabe
Songbird
Four in the Morning
Lyme Life- new song
Sunlight
JCY Band Setlist:
Ridgetop
Ride The Wind
Here Comes The Night – New song
Walk The Talk – New song
Cast A Stone – New song
What’s Goin’ On/Mercy Me
For My Sisters – New song
Before You Came
Sanctuary
Darkness, Darkness
Lightshine
Get Together
ENCORE-
T-Bone Shuffle