I rarely know what to expect from a crowd before a concert. I’m not a radio listener, so I’m always wondering about where some bands find all their fans.
In Ray LaMontagne‘s case, I’d heard from several people that they were very interested in this concert, from parents at my kid’s school, to my cousin, and other disparate groups.
So, everybody loves Ray[mond].
My experience with his music is limited. I’ve listened off and on, and his name always comes up for me on the various music recommendation services. I like the music, but I’ve never really listened at a point when I really connected.
After the live show, however, I realize that it might not just be a timing issue: it’s Ray.
After arriving at the venue and everything being in order, I was told that Ray had some special requirements for photographers. Past the normal three song limit, Ray required all photographers to stay behind the sound board, which in the case of the Uptown Theater is a good 100 feet from the stage.
Ray LaMontagne and Band
After a lovely opening set by Leona Naess (backed by Ray’s band), the security guards even had to take the additional step of going through the entire crowd and warning them not to take any pictures. No camera phones, no cameras, period.
As the set opened, it was obvious there were two distinct groups there: hardcore fans and those they brought along. Standing in one place for the entire show, Ray failed to excite those in the non-hardcore group.
Usually when I like the music, seeing the artist live will make the connection necessary for me to become a true fan. With this performance, LaMontagne failed to make any sort of connection with me whatsoever.
The performance was good, the band was tight, but there was just no spark. LaMontagne failed to win the crowd over, and the performance languished.
Ray Lamontagne: website | myspace
