Words and Photos by Desirea Corbett
Sawyer Hill Brings a Religious Experience to Irving Plaza
Sawyer Hill’s show at Irving Plaza the other night was the kind of performance that will be seared into the memories of those who were there. Years from now, we’ll be telling people, “I remember seeing him in a small venue in New York before he became a huge star.” It’s safe to say the night felt like a religious experience for many of us. And I don’t just mean the religious symbols and undertones woven throughout the show, a nod to Hill’s childhood in a strict religious home. There’s something about experiencing music like this together in a crowd that isn’t all that different from being part of a congregation. We’re all there for the same reason, singing along and united in our admiration for the person onstage.
Opening the night was Never Ending Fall, who came out swinging from the very first moment. Throughout their 45-minute set, they were full of energy, jumping around the stage and engaging with the crowd. Their set was packed with screaming guitar solos and an infectious sense of fun, and they genuinely looked like they were having a blast together. Toward the end of the set, they even instructed the crowd to form a mosh pit, prompting the lead singer to take off his shirt and dive right in.
With the crowd thoroughly warmed up, it was time for Sawyer Hill. His set began in complete darkness, with a spotlight illuminating a church pew and pulpit. Hill has been open in interviews about his Pentecostal upbringing and how it shaped his perspective, making this a fitting introduction. He launched into “Going to Hell” while seated on the pew beneath a plastic tarp. When he finally stood, something clicked. I realized I was in the presence of someone destined for greatness.
From his towering frame and long hair, which he frequently whipped around the stage, to his buttery-smooth voice like a shot of bourbon, Hill has an unmistakable star quality. He commands attention without seeming to try, drawing the audience into every moment.
He continued with “Jimmy’s Gone Numb” and “Firestarters,” captivating the crowd with his boundless energy and magnificent voice. Midway through the set, he leaned further into the religious theme, announcing that he was going to start a confessional. He passed a microphone around the audience, inviting people to share their deepest secrets. One woman confessed that she had his first and last name written on the back of her thong. Speechless for a moment, Hill declared it the best confession of the entire tour. “Can I get an Amen?!” he shouted, and the crowd happily obliged.
One of the night’s highlights came during the encore, when Hill performed his cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” It was so remarkably well done that it’s hard to imagine anyone doing the song more justice. Hearing him put his own stamp on such an iconic track was an incredible experience, and seeing it unfold live made it all the more memorable.
By the end of the night, it was clear that something special had happened inside Irving Plaza. Live music has a way of becoming its own kind of church—a place where strangers come together, lose themselves in the same songs, and feel connected to something bigger than themselves. For a couple of hours, the outside world falls away, and all that matters is the music and the people sharing it with you. If this show was any indication of what’s ahead, Sawyer Hill won’t be playing rooms this size forever. And for everyone who was there, getting to say “I remember seeing him before the rest of the world caught on” might just be the best part of the whole experience.
