Sawyer Hill, Live at Irving Plaza

The night started with Never Ending Fall, and I don’t think I’ve ever photographed an opening band having that much fun. They brought so much energy to the stage that they had the crowd moshing before closing out with a really fun cover of “Electric Feel” that left the whole room feeling joyful and nostalgic.

Then Sawyer Hill came out to a crowd that was honestly hard to categorize. If I had walked into Irving Plaza observing everyone without knowing who was playing, I don’t think I would’ve been able to guess. That quality was probably one of the coolest things about the night.

I started the night in line chatting with two women in their 60s who were just looking for a fun night out. They came in not knowing anything about Sawyer and left as new fans. Every time I caught a glimpse of them in the balcony, they had drinks in the air, dancing and screaming along. Seeing two best friends still going out and having a night like that honestly made me feel a little less anxious of getting older myself. At one point, I turned around to see a kid who couldn’t have been more than 10 years old screaming every word to a song while his mom filmed him while doing the same. I also kept noticing large pockets of the crowd that looked more like they belonged at a classic rock show, carrying the same kind of admiration and excitement you’d expect to see for an established rock legend. I truly think it says something really special about the soul of a young artist like Sawyer who can connect with people who have been listening to music for decades, while still bringing in an entirely new generation of fans.

His voice was probably the other thing that stood out to me most. It’s so low and distinct, and somehow sounded even better live. There’s a warmth and weight to it that makes even the quieter moments feel big and weighty, while still sounding completely effortless. It’s the kind of voice that stays with you and has you rewatching iPhone videos for days after.

One of my favorite parts of the night was the confessionals. Sawyer passed a microphone around the crowd and let people confess whatever they wanted, which led to a couple very funny moments and questionable stories. It was a pretty perfect way to play with the religious trauma themes that come up in his music without making the whole thing feel overly serious.

To be completely honest, I went into the show not knowing a ton about Sawyer Hill, and left understanding why the room was so full of people who clearly do. There’s a lot of personality behind what he’s doing, and it was hard not to notice how much of that came through in the way he interacted with the crowd. More than anything, the show made me want to go back and relisten to his discography with this newfound context.