After buying beer for fans at a St. Cecilia concert last fall, a fan returned the favor by delivering the singer-songwriter a drink Wednesday at Meijer Gardens. It was just part of an inviting show.
‘Best Market in the Whole Country’: Amos Lee’s assessment during Wednesday night’s concert. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
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“Grand Rapids … always a weird time,” Philadelphia singer-songwriter Amos Lee declared with a shake of his head after some friendly banter with the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park crowd Wednesday night.
“Your energy level is that of people who are sitting in beach chairs … and that’s OK. The poll is split down the middle of people who wanna party and people who wanna chill.”
Although Lee poked fun at those who remained seated in their beach chairs the whole night and those who couldn’t look away from their phones, he also earnestly referred to Grand Rapids as his “home away from home” later in the show.
It’s only fair that Lee should feel right at home in Grand Rapids, considering how frequently his tours stop here.
“You guys are like my best market in the whole country,” Lee remarked as he reminisced on past West Michigan shows including his memorable stop in at St. Cecilia Music Center last fall at which he provided beers for hundreds of attendees.
Plenty of Fan Interaction: Amos Lee and band on stage. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
A fan even returned that favor by asking Lee for his drink order during the show and returning moments later to the front of the stage with security in tow to deliver the drinks straight into Lee’s hand.
“Worry No More,” a track from Lee’s 2022 album, “Dreamland,” was the first song of the night that inspired a ripple effect of relaxed concertgoers deciding to get off their feet and dance along to the uplifting sentiment.
The soulful indie-rock sound of selections from Lee’s extensive discography elicited constant cheers from the dedicated fans in the crowd. Whether Lee was nailing soaring falsettos and vocal runs or demonstrating a raspier low tone, the emotion in Lee’s delivery never wavered.
A particularly emotional moment came when Lee invited bassist Solomon Dorsey to join him on vocals for the 2011 track “Violin.” The song’s delicate subject matter, Dorsey’s added harmonies, and a short sampling of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” to finish out the song were enough to move some fans to tears.
While Lee included plenty of upbeat tracks in the set that utilized his band (guitarists Zach Djanikian and Mandy Fer, keyboardist Jaron Olevsky, drummer Lee Falco and bassist Solomon Dorsey) to their full potential and kept the overall vibe fun and lighthearted, Lee’s lyricism and heart really shined during his stripped-back, folk-oriented songs including the yet-to-be-released track “Madison.”
Before performing “Arms of a Woman” near the end of the set, Lee brought a young fan, Mason, onstage to sing with him per the request written on Mason’s homemade sign. As Lee began the song, Mason stood next to him smiling out at the crowd, and when his time came to sing, Mason belted out the lyrics with the same confidence as Lee himself.
Lee closed the show with an energetic rendition of the fan-favorite track, “Windows Are Rolled Down.”
Earlier in the night, opener and New York native Mikaela Davis impressed the crowd with her intricate harp skills and mesmerizing vocals.
Next Up at Meijer Gardens: Old Crow Medicine Show with Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday (July 10). The concert is sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: Mikaela Davis, Amos Lee at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Joshua Tufts
