A Gorgeous Evening with Gregory Alan Isakov at The St. Paul Palace Theatre

BY SOPHIA GOETZ

This Saturday, I had the privilege of seeing singersongwriter, Gregory Alan Isakov, in concert at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. While this was my second time seeing him perform (I attended his last performance in February of this year, on his previous tour), this latest performance proved to be nothing short of remarkable, if not exceeding the expectations set by his winter tour. Gregory Alan Isakov’s most recent stop on his much-awaited national tour took place at the Palace Theatre in St. Paul. Even though I arrived at the venue nearly two hours before doors, fans had already gathered there in droves, awaiting their opening (like myself) with eager anticipation.

Seattle-based singer and the original opener for the show Damien Juradowho was unable to attend due to illness, was replaced by singersongwriter Eric Johnson of the long-established folk band Fruit Bats. Despite the last-minute nature of Johnson’s performance–sans his usual-accompanying band members– gave an impressive show, playing notable hits from the band’s extensive discography: “We Used to Live Here,” “The Bottom of It,” and my personal favorite, “Mountain Humbug Song.” Though it was my first introduction to the Fruit Bats, Johnson’s opening proved to be an unforgettable experience. After Johnson’s opening, the five-piece band, consisting of guitarists Steve Varney and Danny Black, violinist Jeb Bows, bassist John Paul Grigsby, and drummer Max Barcelow, appeared on stage with the South African singer-songwriter, Isakov himself. Isakov entered the stage in a casual outfit and a brown hat with a brown brim, and the response from the crowd was tremendous.

I have always considered myself an avid concertgoer, and while I have had the privilege of seeing many of my favorite artists live, I can say without a doubt that there is no other artist who is astronomically better in concert than Isakov. The singer-songwriter opened his set with a track from his new album, Appaloosa Bones, which was released nearly two months ago — “Before the Sun.” While not my favorite track on the album, the gorgeous swells of the violin, combined with Isakov’s incredible stage presence and voice, easily made it my favorite song of the evening.

Unlike his last concert, where he mostly played hits from his older albums, during this performance Isakov primarily featured tracks from his latest project, such as “The Fall,” “Miles to Go,” and “Terlingua.” I appreciated how well Isakov and the band were able to emulate the Southwestern origins that inspired his most recent album. And while this concert primarily featured tracks from Appaloosa Bones, Isakov did keep some old favorites, such as “Amsterdam,” “San Luis,” and “Caves” from his setlist. Chills certainly swept through the audience as Isakov performed “Liars,” repeating the phrase “now we’re just liars” with a soaring vocal and instrumental background. One unforgettable moment from the evening came as Isakov introduced his band-mates, recounting how he and guitarist Danny Black had been in a band together since they were twelve years old. The audience could be heard awwing as the two reminisced about their shared childhood.

As Isakov and his band finished out their set with the stunning instrumentals of “Appaloosa Bones,” they thanked the audience and exited the stage. However, the crowd was not even remotely satiated, and responded to their exit with cheers and pleas for an encore performance. Much to our delight, it did not take long for Isakov and his companions to return to the stage. However, this time, instead of their usual formation spread out across the stage, they huddled toward the front center mic, bringing their instruments with them. During their encore, the band performed lively and upbeat versions of “One Day,” “Silver Bell,” and (my personal favorite) “Shades of Blue.”

While I get a lot of enjoyment out of going to metal and punk concerts and I really enjoy the sense of community that those concerts foster between the performers and the audience. I must say that the magic of my Friday night with Gregory Alan Isakov was something I didn’t feel at the noisier shows. It was one of those nights when everyone forgot about the outside world and just enjoyed the music. Briefly put, my evening with Gregory Alan Isakov was one of the loveliest I’ve experienced in recent memory.