@Olivia.McMath

This past Sunday, Geordie Greep and his insanely talented band graced the audience at the Metro with an intricate, unidentifiably unique performance. The place was packed; energy was high, and Tori and I had no idea what to expect. In all honesty I had not dabbled much in Geordie Greep’s music aside from a passing listen to “Blues” which influenced me to get tickets as soon as I heard he was stopping by. 

The set ranged largely in feeling and influence. At times it felt like I had entered a 50’s jazz bar, Greep stumbled about the stage while delivering classical vocals supported by a smooth jazz adjacent instrumental. At other times it felt like being preached to, like being given a speech by a passionate pastor. In these songs, Greep’s vocals were far less classical but never lacked emotion and delivery. The vocal parts of these performances were distinct, encapsulating and almost separate from the later 20-minute instrumental. In these 20 minutes I think I discovered that I am into more classic song forms, but this was no fault of Greep and his band. With unpredictable guitar solos, emotional and moving piano and a crowd like no other it was unlike any other live musical performance I have ever seen. 

It would be a crime not to acknowledge the standout percussionist and vocalist Santiago Moyano. In the midst of an already vast show genre-wise, Moyano delivered an old-style voice and a lively twist on classics like “Oh Qué Sera” and “Cua Cua Ra, Cua Cua”. Nothing about Greep’s music had indicated to me that there would be two heavy Latin American interludes and I was pleasantly surprised. 

Another notable performance from the band was a touching, grand, possibly monumental performance from the pianist, Cameron Campbell. Cambell has his own musical initiative, “The Campell Brothers” and many other musical side quests that are intensely jazz focused. You could hear his jazz background in his playing (especially during the instrumentals), each phrase had direction, and he was able to play with the other musicians in a very meticulous and expressive manner while still conveying a carefree experience. 

As previously mentioned, the crowd did not fall short in any categories. Actually, it was a large part of what made the show so impactful.  Everyone on the floor and in the balcony seemed to know every lyric and feel it deeply. As a result of my typical listening habits, I haven’t been to many (if any) shows with such an intense pit. The set was long, but it was a show that would be worth it to be in the pit. The whole three hour show they stayed invested in the highs and lows of the set. It was easy to feel like you were a part of something big. Some people think that the concert community is dead, but they obviously haven’t been to see Geordie Greep. 

Overall, this is a show that I would recommend to anyone who loves music in any form. Even if it’s not quite your genre, the show provided a musical experience completely new to me that I will likely never get to experience again, and any music junkie would kill for an experience like that. So, to all of you sitting at home wondering if you should buy tickets to see Geordie Greep NOW IS THE TIME.