red lights

Concert Livewire
basement tapes concert reviews cd reviews interviewsticket swap music news


Ray LaMontagne brings new songs to Tucson

Ray LaMontagne
The Fox Theatre
Tucson, AZ
October 23, 2014
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Belle Brigade
Belle Brigade
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne

Review and photos by Mary Andrews

Ray LaMontagne came to town armed with old hits as well as songs from the pop oriented Supernova album. The audience was rowdy and ready for their hero to sing their favorites.

Mr. LaMontagne's has had a ten-year career with five albums to his credit. The reclusive New Englander's career started in 1999 when he was inspired by Stephen Still's "Treetop Flyer." By 2004, the song "Trouble" and the album of the same name catapulted him to worldwide fame.

The evening started with opening band, Belle Brigade. The band consists of siblings, Barbara Gruska (drums and vocals) and younger brother, Ethan Gruska (guitar and vocals). They are also part of Ray LaMontagne's backing band during his set. Barbara has great vocals along with playing a mean set of drums. The blending of the vocals with her brother Ethan is magic!

Ray LaMontagne took the stage with an audience that was waiting with baited breath to see their hero. He started with "Lavender" taken from the new album. Immediately Ray gives the audience a slightly different sound than earlier material. Another Supernova offering "She's the One" was next. From there, he slid into an older composition, "For the Summer."

He stopped to say hello and an audience member shouted, "We love you." He responded with a simple "thank you." People started blurting requests of "Jolene" and "Trouble." He, then, responded, "Aw come on, I'm here for 15 minutes and your already bustin' my balls. Don't you worry, don't you worry. I'll sing "Trouble" for you. I'll sing "Jolene" for you. When you go see someone you like, you see how he or she changes. I don't know why you fear change so much. How boring it would be if nothing changed." Finally, someone from the balcony shouted, "sing what you want." That was what happened for the rest of the evening.

During the latter half of the show, there was a special treat with an acoustic three-song set with Ray playing acoustic guitar and Zachariah Hickman's powerful upright bass. During Ray's introduction of Zachariah, he credits him to teaching him the guitar chords. Here they performed "Burn," "Trouble" and "Jolene." Regardless of the musical genre, pop, rock, or folk, Ray LaMontagne's mesmerizing voice was pleasing in the intimate setting of the Fox Theatre. Catch him on his Fall tour.
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Belle Brigade
Belle Brigade
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Ray LaMontagne
Belle Brigade
Belle Brigade
Belle Brigade
Belle Brigade

What Do You Think?

Name:

Artist:

City & State:

e mail:

Here's Your Chance to.... Respond!



Your feedback will be featured on
Rant or Rave within 24 hours.

Return to Reviews
Return to Menu