There’s a few things that people should know about me. First, and most obviously, I’m a music lover. Secondly, I get a kick out of seeing the stats of what I listen to at the end of each year. But somehow, I’m always surprised when I see S. Carey landing as my top listened artist every single year. Should I be surprised? Probably not, considering how many hours I tend to spend with his music on repeat. But within a dimly lit room at Public Records in Brooklyn last night, I was reminded of why his music has taken such strong root in my life.
Beginning the evening, singer/songwriter/producer Courtney Hartman took to the task of warming up the crowd with a hushed song that almost seemed like a prayer. I appreciated this choice and how it set the tone for the entire evening. We were all drawn in and forced to be present as she related a story of living in New York for a period before returning to her home state of Colorado where she worked in a barn, and wrote songs amongst the sounds of bleating goats. The transition from city life to rural has its challenges but the less hectic pace lends itself to crafting introspective work, like her Glade album, released in 2021. “Moontalk” and “Hideway” both found their way into the setlist, and were fast favorites. “Home Remedy” with accompaniment from S.Carey also appeared before the entire band joined to set up a near seamless transition into the S. Carey-led portion of the evening.
Courtney Hartman
Courtney Hartman
Courtney Hartman
Beginning the set with “Dark” from his exquisite new album, Break Me Open, Carey has seemingly mastered translating the gorgeousness and sprawling lush instrumentation of the album versions into his live performances. His band, comprised of Carey on lead vocals, guitar and keyboard, Ben Lester on pedal steel and synths, Courtney Hartman returning on guitar, vocals and violin, Jeremy Boettcher on bass and Korg mini synth and Zach Hanson rounding out on drums, vocals and a well-handled shaker comprehensively translated the feeling, textures and nuance of the recorded versions. It’s something that immediately stands out to me whenever I have the pleasure of being in the room during an S. Carey performance. The attention to detail and dedication required to get it as spot on as possible is something that sets Carey and this band apart from many other similar bands touring now. A small word of advice: always take the time to see S. Carey perform, it’s always a good choice.
S. Carey
S. Carey
S. Carey
S. Carey
It was also very intriguing to watch artists of this caliber still smile and show clear admiration toward their counterparts when they notice one of them had done something particularly noteworthy. An example of this was during “Sunshower” when Ben smiled over at Carey several times. I’m pretty sure I’m not the only crowd-goer that got goosebumps multiple times during the evening and counting my lucky stars that Sean was vulnerable and open enough to craft such a stunning work and share it with the world. “Waking Up” was another moment during the evening where I did a little bit of self-reflection. Crafting a song like this in the middle of personal turmoil is a point of resilience that we should all aspire to. The beauty of rediscovering pieces of yourself that were made somewhat unrecognizable and realizing that although you won’t be the same person you once were, you can navigate it and be revealed to be better for it. A timely, unintended message for us all after so much trauma these past few years.
S. Carey
S. Carey
S. Carey
While many of the songs played dealt with love and loss including the apt Tom Waits cover of “Picture In A Frame,” I still left the room feeling supremely optimistic about what’s to come. I could have gladly spent another hour listening to more of this gloriously played music, but as we were reminded, all good things must come to an end. But I will hold tightly to this optimistic feeling and look forward to the next time Carey can bring us into his world where even the most unpleasant circumstances can still hold a measure of beauty.
S. Carey
S. Carey
S. Carey
Article/Images: Lesley Keller
