Concert Review: Robyn Hitchcock Sings Like Fine Wine At City Winery

There are moments when an artist meets a location, perfectly. It is as if the space was made to represent and elevate their sound. City Winery felt like the perfect spot for Robyn Hitchcock. A beautiful, dimly lit locale set up with rows of family, friends, and couples exchanging smiles and breaking bread. There Robyn sang covers and classics with an ease that shows sophistication can have a calming effect.

When you think elegance, despite savory in image, you might also think “cold” and “distant” in feeling. Yet, Robyn Hitchcock is anything but such terms as seen by his green, polka-dotted shirt. He is open, funny, and thoughtful, and uses the guitar as a window into his soul. There are certain musicians that, despite a their powerful vocals, it is with their instruments that they shine. It is as if their chords align their sentiments better than their mind, and each feeling willows through melodies. From a cover of The Beatles’ Dear Prudence to throwbacks to his Egyptians/ Soft Boy’s days like “I Wanna Destroy You” and solo-originals such as “Balloon Man”, every arrangement and annotation brought out a sweet longing. You simply wanted to drift off, and recall every moment when you stared at the sky in admiration for its beauty and yearning to be apart of it. Hitchcock’s voice adds a natural nobility to desire, and through tracks like “1974” and “Ye Sleeping Knights of Jesus”, you began to see that longing is not really about whether you are lost; it is about being human.

As every guitar string rolled into Mike Mills piano keys to form what seemed to be the dancing of sonic stars, you felt serenity and observance humble you into silence. All you had to do was listen to hear each song become transformed into opuses of realization: you never really lose your wants or capacity to want, but part of wisdom is learning that as long as you have and enjoy what you need then you gain the perseverance to get your dreams. As Hitchcock relived his career in song and story, he became an emblem that time is not about age; it is about the maturity that comes with letting happiness into your heart. For More Information On Robyn Hitchcock Click Here