A special night for a sold out crowd in Sacramento
Another Sold Out Show for Gregory Alan Isakov at The Crest Theatre - Sacramento
Pictures and Words: Jim Brown
Well, this was definitely the darkest show I’ve seen in a long time. Not dark as in gloomy and crying-into-a-pillow all night because she found someone else kinda thing, but actually just very very dark because apparently Gregory Alan Isakov likes playing in dimly lit venues. This made for great ambiance and set the stage nicely, but from a photography point of view it was the worst case scenario. All I’ll say about that is the room was very dimly lit, they hit the fog machine and then he came out wearing a wide-brimmed hat -- three strikes for photographers…I wonder if he heard me crying behind my Nikon 1.2f 24mm lens…which would have done the job ordinarily, but not here. Ok, I thought, shake it off and let the light come to you.
Turns out…it was a GREAT decision because his music absolutely encompasses your soul. The dim lighting set the stage perfectly for his moody, smooth sound in front of a sold-out crowd at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento. When Isakov and the other five members of his band (including a standup bass, fiddle and banjo...that NEVER not works well together) took the stage it was clear this was an experience rather than just a show. I forgave him and his lighting crew immediately.
Isakov’s velvety voice pairs wonderfully with his lyric-writing skills on songs like the haunting “San Luis”, “The Fall” and “Miles to Go.” When I say "haunting" I mean that goose bumps kind of feeling --something that rarely happens these days. It was extra special because sitting there listening you might reflect on your long day or rough work week or family or loved ones come and gone… well it doesn’t matter really because it all hits really really hard if you let it in.
Isakov’s songs are definitely on the more mellow side (after he played “Dark Dark Dark,” one of the hits from his 2018 album Evening Machines, Isakov joked with the crowd that it was his one and only “happy song”), but they are also filled with a subtle optimism that makes each song an easy and enjoyable listen. Its kind of a day-dreamy sound or something you’d listen to on a cross country road trip with your best friend, or a train ride to a new place all by yourself. In fact, I bet my next commute on the Amtrak capital corridor will go much better with “If I Go” playing in my ear. Too bad we can’t pipe that into the entire train car to chill everyone out and get the day started just right. Not really an unfamiliar approach to the day as far as Gregory is concerned…Isakov’s relaxed and easy style makes you feel like you could join him on his farm in Colorado (which he actually owns) for an afternoon of carrot-picking under the sun and he wouldn’t mind one bit.
Isakov is currently on the road to support Appaloosa Bones, the album he released last summer. In addition to several tracks off the new album, he also covered some of his older pieces, including a solo number (“3 am”) and a pair of duets with friend and collaborator Bonnie Paine. They have a special connection that can be seen from the nosebleed seats, check out the photos to see the admiration for each other's talents, that made the duet even more special. Isakov mentioned many of them had been playing together since their teen years, it’s a hard thing to stay that close for that long, rare indeed.
The show wouldn’t be complete without Isakov’s well-known “Stable Song,” accompanied only by his banjo player. The show ended with something I’d never seen before -- all six band members and Bonnie Paine gathered around a single, old-timey microphone to harmonize on “Silver Bell” and “All Shades of Blue.” It was god damn magical. Makes you feel like you don’t need Bluetooth, online shopping, Netflix or an IPhone upgrade. It makes you think about how fortunate Gregory Alan Isakov is, not for his musicianship especially, but for his understanding of how to truly live deeply and appreciate each other, each moment and each place.
I could be wrong, that's just what I heard in his music. He could have written all those songs to try and meet pretty girls, I really doubt it though. He knows something we don’t know…and if you listen to the songs a dozen times the bulb lights up, then you feel like you’re sitting in your favorite room, with a double whiskey, and the lights are down low, and you may be all alone, listening to Gregory Aslan Isakov on the radio, but strangely…everything is just perfect.
Thank you for stopping by Sacramento Gregory, it will not be duplicated.
Music Fan Magazine Meters:
Smoke Meter: Oddly there was none, and believe me people were lookin...great family vibes though.
Fight Meter: Yea...none of that here at all except at the ladies bathroom...why do they all go at the same time?
Sing Along Meter: None really. People were flowing with the songs but the quiet presentation didn't allow for raunchy sing alongs from the nosebleeds. Fine by me, I didn't come here to listen to anyone else but Gregory anyway.