Concert Review: Lawrence Make Me Feel Alive At Irving Plaza
Recently signed to Warner Bros., Lawrence had plenty to celebrate at Irving Plaza. Yet, the real winners are their parents. I could not help but be in awe and slightly proud to see a pair of siblings share talent, love, and a good time on the Irving Plaza Stage.
Clyde and Gracie Lawrence know how to make a crowd feel alive. I can voice for everyone at Irving Plaza in saying that the joy we felt for their performance is a standard for how we wish to feel all the time. First, these two have been blessed with voices that, if pressed, produce notes that are literally GOLD! Gracie’s range is as wide as an ocean, and she knows how to make it churn like Mother Nature, herself. Hearing her sing was almost spiritual with her riffs, definitely, resonating with Gospel mentalities like myself. Moreover, her love for riffing was as relishable as a sweet tart. She sang according to her mood, and if she felt like jumping an octave as if she were jumping rope: SHE DID! As a consistent vocal student/ classically trained singer, it was an absolute treat to see someone so talented that she impresses fellow talent. I know that comes off arrogant, but what I am trying to explain is similar to the way Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston impress and inspire singers like Adele or Ariana Grande. Greatness breeds greatness as seen when Gracie’s vocals harmonized with the frothy, Randy Newman-esque voice of her brother, Clyde. Honestly, if he had said his real father was Mr. Newman, I would not have fought the paternity with how similar they play with their voice. Yet, there is another treasure to Lawrence’s show: their guests.
I have never seen a group invite more on stage people than Lawrence, and I say that in the best way. There was a sincere moment where I thought I would be called, but, unfortunately, it was not so. From their friends Peter and Colin, to band members from the following act Ripe, it was an endless stream good musicians/buddies coming to join their “jam”. Yet, the best guest had to have been the youngest Lawrence: Linus. That night Lawrence introduced a string of new songs/ future hits like, “So It Goes”, “Friend Or Enemy”, and the sentimentally beautiful track “Brother”, which featured Linus. Seeing the young kid nervous and excited to be by the rising star of his older siblings was heart-warming, especially because he has nothing to worry about in the talent department. He, too, could match a high note and R&B melody with the best of them. Truthfully, the moment stands out because how of magnificently supportive the crowd was to Linus. Yet, it felt natural to support the youngest sibling because Lawrence served such a phenomenal show; we HAD to cheer. Hearing their “soulified” version of “Get Busy” by Sean Paul, left me smiling too big like, I had run through a wind tunnel. It is hard not to love their live band, classic feel, especially when they have modernized to fit synth-pop anthems like Bieber’s “Sorry”.
The future is so bright for Lawrence, I need to wear shades when envisioning it. They are the embodiment of the idea that good family and good music is all you need in life. For More Information On Lawrence Click Here.
