Evening Machines at The Jefferson
Bryn Dotson, assistant editor
Green, purple, and blue lights danced on the worn wooden floor in The Jefferson Theater as people gathered and conversed. It was a dark, warm atmosphere in the theater, if not a little bit crowded. The throng of people edged closer to the intimate stage as the instruments, which included an array of unique guitars, were set up on stage. Danny Black, a guitarist, opened for Gregory Alan Isakov.
After Black, the crowd hungrily awaited Isakov, who is known for his contemporary folk music. Isakov was on tour, showcasing his recently released album Evening Machines. The anticipation was tangible; a pressure seemed to be building in the room. The stage was set up with three globes, each glowing a different shade of orange, enveloping the stage in a distinct glow.
The wait for the main show was not long, lasting only 15 minutes. The chatter erupted into applause as the stage came alive with flashing spotlights, highlighting all members of the band. There was a banjo player, a drummer, a cellist, a bassist, and finally, Isakov. The stage lights dimmed abruptly, and the first notes to “She Always Takes It Back” began to ripple through the audience.
Cheering ricocheted off the walls of the Jefferson as Isakov moved his way through his set list, which had some of his most beloved songs, including “Big Black Car,” “Chemicals,” and “The Universe.” There were many instances throughout the performance that Isakov interacted with his audience. He told stories, explaining that while his band is not played on the radio, his music is often used in “preschool naptime sessions” and “any time there is yoga involved.” Isakov also warmed the audience by emotionally stating, “The last time I had a concert in Charlottesville, 14 people came. This time, the tickets sold out.”
Isakov concluded his performance with his song “Liars,” which left the crowd urging him for more as he exited the stage. The clapping, whistles of encouragement, and howling brought Isakov and his band back, resulting in an uproar that seemed to shake the theater. His two encore songs were “The Stable Song” and “All Shades of Blue.” For his final encore song, he invited Black to sing with his band and the six men huddled around a single microphone to end his concert with an impassioned song.
Staunton resident Noah Hebert went into the concert without much experience with Black or Isakov’s music. He said, “I was curious to see how he would be able to replicate his sound in a live environment. He did a really good job though, it was an awesome concert.”
Isakov is still on tour, moving briskly around the country. While some shows are sold out, others are still available for purchasing tickets. To learn more about Isakov and for more details about his tour, you can visit his website https://gregoryalanisakov.com/.
