When Katie Lynne Sharbaugh took the stage with her viola in hand, I had to glance around the room, wondering if I’d walked into the wrong venue. But there was no mistake — her name was emblazoned on the screen behind her as she gracefully tucked the viola beneath her chin and began the evening with “Dollar Bills and Dirty Dishes,” a musical theater-inspired piece that set the tone for the evening. Throughout the night, it was clear that Sharbaugh didn’t just use the viola as a prop; she played the viola for nearly the entire setlist at Cannery Hall this past Monday.
From the jump, Sharbaugh captivated the audience with genre-blending performances that combined singer-songwriter pop, musical theater and folk-pop. Despite this variety, not once did the experience feel disjointed or forced. Her openness shined through in both her music and her easygoing anecdotes between songs, making the entire concert feel like an intimate gathering rather than a performance. In an especially heartwarming moment, Sharbaugh’s personal friends danced in the front row to her song “Amelia,” including Amelia Day herself, who happens to be a Vanderbilt alumna.
About two-thirds of the way into the show, Sharbaugh welcomed singer Noah Floersch to the stage to duet her song “Omaha (The Only What If).” Sharbaugh also performed fan-favorites “Little Fortune,” “Lucky Girl Syndrome” and the unreleased track “Great Big Idea.” She stated that her new song was about being unsure of the direction of her next project.
Sharbaugh ended the set with “End Scene” and encored with the powerhouse, theater-inspired rendition of “Nothing Left to Lose.” While the former felt like a meditative end to an otherwise upbeat night, “Nothing Left to Lose” brought the energy back with a bang. Sharbaugh abandoned her viola and piano for the performance, giving full-focus to her vocal prowess as she moved about the stage. It left an impression: Much of the audience could be seen dancing, or at the very least bobbing their heads, even on the way out of the venue.
Earlier in the night, Sharbaugh shared a remark from her producer.
“‘You’re not cool, but you’re doing cool things,’” Sharbaugh recalled her manager saying.
However, by the end, I had to disagree. Sharbaugh isn’t just doing cool things — she’s bringing an irresistible, genuine energy to the craft that requires both talent and bravery. Katie Lynne Sharbaugh is undeniably cool, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what she does next.
