Concert Review: LPR X Continues Its Series of Stories & Songs With Zander Hawley

I said it with Giorgio Moroder, and I say it with Zander Hawley and The Naked And The Famous, LPR attracts both the stories and the story-tellers. It has an aura of both humility and sophistication to it; as if this is where the “everyday” people go to splurge for a special night. This mentality could be why Zander Hawley was so deeply moved by the love in the room.

“I am a sentimental bitch,” he laughed which took me aback. Not many guys say that memorable statement with conviction, but Zander Hawley is one of the sweetest, most grounded artists to grace LPR X. Maybe, it is because he is in the beginnings of his rise, and he feels it. His music carries a beautiful mournfulness that transforms the natural sadness or nostalgia that attracts music listeners: the fear of love. Being in love is terrifying, and making the love public, prosperous, and peaceful feels like a constant attempt to grow-up.

From “We Don’t Talk Anymore” to “When You See My Heart”, his sullen songs brimmed like floating lights searching for a home in a heavy heart. Vocally, Zander has a balance of innocence and pensiveness. He appears like a young man, but old soul: tattering through deep thoughts to remember that his life’s journey is, technically, starting. Thus, as you hear verses too weathered and wonderful to feel tied to age, you laugh at how fresh-faced and comely he can be. Again, Le Poisson Rouge is the place artists go to reveal the soul behind the song, which is why Hawley told of how his parents fell in love in NYC, recalled his more “youthful” adventures, and got teary-eyed at the magnitude of his concert experience.

Artists are people, and, like for every person, happiness comes when you step out of a moment and into your heart. You could tell, as Hawley looked at the crowd, he was having “an out of body, in his spirit” experience. To him, performing at Le Poisson Rouge for its 10th anniversary series was a milestone. It was as if Heaven had told him, “Hey, you are on the right path!” As people sat, listened, and, oddly enough, ordered milk and cookies, LPR X added another notch/ night of sung story-times through Zander Hawley’s performance. Click Here For More Information On Zander Hawley and Le Poisson Rouge’s LPR X series.