Words and Photos by Katherine Cardinale
On a warm Wednesday evening in early May, fans are lined up outside of Webster Hall in New York City in anticipation of the Searows concert occurring that night. The line is split in two, with VIP ticketholders on the left, closer to the street, and general admission attendees on the right against the building. I arrived right on time for the VIP check in and waited in line for the soundcheck experience to start.
The VIP portion of the show was short but sweet. After checking in and receiving Searows-themed VIP laminates, fans were handed signed tour posters and escorted into the venue for soundcheck. Searows played a selection of songs from his discography, including “Collector” and “Calico.” Some of them were with his band, but he also did a few by himself. Between songs, he sheepishly admitted that he didn’t know how to play anything that wasn’t in his current rotation for tour. After the experience concluded, he thanked fans for coming to see him.
Later that evening, the venue’s doors re-opened and excited fans were let in by the hundreds. Searows’s opener Jordan Patterson performed first, precisely at 8PM. Although seemingly shy, she demonstrated an incredible vocal range, which paired beautifully with her authentic storytelling. Fans swayed along and listened quietly during her set, taking it all in.
When the lights dimmed and Searows’s band walked onstage, fans burst into cheers and clapped eagerly. The band launched into “Belly of the Whale,” the opening track of Death in the Business of Whaling, which is the album that Searows is currently touring. Throughout the evening, Searows played the entirety of the album. The mix of these newer songs with older favorites like “martingale” and a reworked version of “End of the World” created the perfect fan experience. When the band launched into certain songs during the set, particularly ones off Searows’s debut album, Guard Dog, you could hear audible reactions of emotions from the crowd. This also occurred during the encore, when Searows played his popular single “House Song,” which went viral on Tiktok shortly after its release.
Searows thanked the audience for coming multiple times throughout the night. He also brought his dry sense of humor to his short conversations with the crowd, which resulted in periodic laughter. The intimate venue and quiet songs created a magical moment for everyone in the room. You could also see tears being shed as a result of Searows’s vulnerable lyrics towards the end of the encore.
Searows is on tour through July, and you can buy tickets to any of his upcoming shows here. His concert is a must see even if you are a casual fan (or have never heard his music before!). We hope you’re able to make it!
Loudspeaker Collective 