Article and photos by: Gary Flink
New York, NY- Amos Lee is currently out on tour promoting his recently released 6th studio album, Spirit, and he brought his incredible vocal talents and catalog of passionate songs to Radio City Music Hall on Sept. 10th.
His talented band took the stage first to begin the intro for the show’s opening song, “New Love”, and Lee took the stage and joined them shortly thereafter to the enthusiastic and welcomed cheers from the packed historic house. Performing the first three songs with no guitar in hand, his soulful voice was on broad display and fully showcased as he eased his way into the evening. Picking up his Gibson J-100 for the 4th tune of the night, “Keep it Loose, Keep it Tight”, from his 2005 debut album, Amos Lee, he rarely put it down after that as the setlist flowed through songs from all six of his LP’s. The night’s two hour setlist varied in genres but was always deeply rooted in soul, folk and R & B and included an Americana influenced mid-portion, which the band performed acoustically, sharing a mic for vocals.
Lee spoke often between songs, giving sincere and heartfelt thanks to those people who have been instrumental in helping shape and guide his career. He openly offered himself and the stories behind some of his songs, including the inspiration behind one of his most emotional and moving performances of the night, “Careless,” which he sang alone on stage and said he wrote during one of the most difficult times in his life.
He sincerely enjoyed and graciously embraced every moment he spent on the hallowed stage of Radio City, often smiling humbly, and at one point told the crowd, “I feel like a fish that’s in the best fish tank in the world.” Rest assured that if that were true, there’s no doubt that every member of the crowd felt very fortunate and very lucky to be looking in.