After a long and rainy day of classes, I walked into Marathon Music Works for Lawrence’s show a bit anxious. Eager for an opportunity to cover my first concert for The Hustler, I agreed to this show only a few days prior, leaving me little time to familiarize myself with the pop-soul group. However, when I ducked out of the rain into the show, the buzz and glow of the converted factory venue quickly eased my nerves.
Jukebox the Ghost opened the show with a pop vigor that would continue throughout the night. The band, composed of Ben Thornewill, Tommy Siegel and Jesse Kristin, brought the crowd in on the fun with audience participation during catchy tracks like “Everybody’s Lonely.”
After explaining that they regularly go on what they call the “HalloQueen” tour — a tour where they perform Queen covers — the group performed Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” which stirred the crowd into applause and sing-along.
In the break between the openers and Lawrence’s set, I met a few girls at the front of the crowd. After they filled me in on some of Lawrence’s biggest hits, I felt better prepared for what was in store.
As soon as their introduction video ended, Lawrence ran out on stage and opened their set with the name sake of the tour, “Family Business.” This song was upbeat, fun and explosive. Gracie Lawrence literally sings, “Welcome to the family business” in the hook — what better way to introduce the tour? I immediately noticed and admired the bright sounds of the trumpet and saxophones. Most “indie” bands I have heard in the past are solely guitar and drum-based, but Lawrence’s brass section added a funky vibe I grew to love throughout the show.
After a few songs, Clyde Lawrence took to the microphone and told the audience that John Oates of the 80s rock duo Hall & Oates was one of him and his sister’s biggest inspirations. All of the sudden, Lawrence invited Oates on stage to join them–the crowd erupted in cheers and disbelief.
“You guys, I’m freaking out,” Gracie Lawrence said.
Oates joined the band in singing and playing guitar on their song “Guy I Used To Be,” which was inspired by Oates. The jam continued with the group performing Hall & Oates’s 1980 classic “You Make My Dreams Come True.” This was one of the most exciting and feel-good moments of the night for me.
As Lawrence continued through their set, one of the emerging themes for me was the diversity of genre and messaging on the album. There certainly was a funky and playful vibe to a lot of the songs, but there were also slower ones and tinges of existential dread throughout the album. Lawrence’s songs hit a lot of those timeless feelings of growing up — love, loss, insecurity — but with an added air of irony and soulful groove. The brass section danced in an unrehearsed manner throughout the show (mediocrely, as they self-proclaimed in a video package played during the show), and all of the band looked like they had a great time on stage together.
After their “Main Office” set, Lawrence shifted vibes to their “Acoustic Office.” First, they performed “The Weather,” one of only a few songs not on the “Family Business” album. Gracie invited the crowd to sing along to this one, and it felt to me like almost everyone did. This was the most poignant and touching moment of the show for me — particularly when one saxophonist stepped up and took a solo, the white stage lighting softened. I really loved this song, and it offered a nice contrast to the high-energy majority of the show.
The big thematic takeaway from this show for me was that of blazing your own path and perseverance. Before performing “Something in the Water,” Clyde explained that the track is about feeling like everyone around you is doing cool stuff and has it all together. That is just not true, he assured the crowd.
Lawrence’s smash-hit “Don’t Lose Sight,” furthered this theme. About Lawrence’s grievances in the music industry, this song was the last in the main set (before the encore). The song’s lyrics advocate persistence: “This shit’s gonna kill me but I won’t let it… / Don’t lose sight, baby, don’t lose sight.” An instant earworm, this hook and Gracie Lawrence’s insane vocal range on this track is still stuck in my head, days after the concert.
After a two-song encore, Lawrence closed out the night emphasizing how important the name of the tour, “Family Business,” was to the band. It’s more than just the title of the album, Clyde Lawrence urged. Everyone on the stage does more than just their musical description. Do-it-yourself, creativity, and collaboration that are characteristic of a family business define how the band runs itself. Before they said it outright though, the fun of the “Family Business” was contagious, and I am a newfound fan!
