Sometimes there are artists that you stumble onto late in the game, and wished you’d known about much sooner so you could have experienced their greatness early on. Sid Sriram is one of those artists for me. Our worlds finally collided as he began working with Minneapolis-based artist/producer Ryan Olson, who is responsible for a very large percentage of some of my favorite music. When this tour was announced I wasted no time in securing my spot because I knew this would be a special one, and boy did Sid deliver. Judging by the long line down the block, and two-sold out nights at the storied Music Hall of Williamsburg, it looks like I’m in great company.
Opening the night was Scanthandra, comprised of a guitarist, and two synth artists with even more wide ranging musical duties than I can specifically identify, but they offered a completely instrumental set. Normally, instrumental musical acts in an opening slot can either go one of two ways: the audience is full of instrumental music nerds like me and they’re fully onboard, making internal notes about how great the guitarist’s tone is, or the crowd just talks amongst themselves using the band as background music and politely claps at each song’s closing note. This audience seemed to be a mix of the two, and I was grateful that lots of people were genuinely enjoying the set. Chest-rattling bass and provocative arrangements were on full display during their 6-song run, which helped keep everyone engaged in anticipation of what would come next. They also succeeded in setting a mood that literally flowed into Sid’s set, as Sid and the rest of the band seamlessly joined the stage.
Easing into “Blue Spaces” off of his 2023 release Sidharth, Sid took his time stretching into the facets of his vocal abilities. The song itself builds slowly in intensity, almost like watching a pot boil, and when he hit that boiling point, there was no turning back. It’s one thing to be wowed by someone’s voice on record but when that voice is equally or much more impressive than you understand it to be, it’s arresting. The crowd, a jubilant melting pot of both followers of his Indian-language music as well as his English-language music, were 100% locked in. While some of us didn’t understand the meaning of the words Sid sang across Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, Marathi languages, the feeling of the words he sang were evident. The dichotomy of love and pain are two pillars in Sid’s performance that are wholly apparent.
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Acknowledging the crowd and explaining how his career has unfolded since his arrival in the States at the age of 1, he marked the making of the Sidharth record as a much needed catharsis. His performance, introspective with “Do The Dance,” buoyant with “Dear Sahana,” and reflective with “One Day God” that transformed into a captivating cover of Alanis Morrissette’s “Uninvited,” Sriram embraced the spirit of the night, and what has become an embodied ethos of “all love, no hate.” Looking toward my right at the trio of friends next to me, teary-eyed singing along to each song, hugging each other, taking photos with one another, and glancing back toward the stage I watched Sid’s bandmates onstage, who were taking in the moment and singing along as Sid delivered a song accompanied only by guitar, they all encapsulated Sid’s sentiment of leaning on your friends and family through the good and bad times in real time. Living in NYC all my life, I’ve noticed the city has grown harsher and colder these past few years. But artists like Sid, who brings such a beautiful message of love and acceptance wrapped in an impossibly magnificent vocal delivery, is how we will see each other through to the other, much brighter side that lies ahead.
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram
Sid Sriram setlist:
Blue Spaces
Do the Dance
Stance
Kannalanae (Remix)
Try Me
Quiet Storm – Dear Sahana
Amelia
Ranga Puravihara + Most High
Shoulda Been There
Maruvaarthai Pesathey
One Day God + Uninvited (Alanis Morissette cover)
Friendly Fire
Srivalli
The Hard Way
Encore:
Standstill
Came Along
Article/Images: Lesley Keller
