Carey is an indie folk performer whose music has the power to make the audience feel as if they have entered a fantasy world, preventing burdening thoughts from wandering, resulting in a successful and pleasurable listening experience. His performance allowed me, and I’m sure many others, to feel that way Tuesday night at High Noon Saloon.
Carey’s performance covered his third full-length album, Hundred Acres, which revolves around the theme of living simply and focusing on the things that bring him happiness.
As one of the youngest people in the audience and as someone who hadn’t known much about Carey until earlier this month, I feel as if my experience was unexpectedly invigorating.
The audience also consisted of long-term fans, as well as friends and family of Carey, namely his mother and grandparents. Despite the connection each person in the crowd had with Carey, if any at all, he seemed to be able to almost hypnotize everyone with his talented voice and musicality.
Whether downstairs near the stage or upstairs on the balcony, all eyes were on Carey — no one seemed to be distracted by anything other than the performance. The intimate crowd was mature, attentive and supportive, enthusiastically clapping at the end of each song.
The mixture of Carey’s soft, mellow voice, beautiful words, guitar strumming and piano playing, as well as his talented band members, resulted in emotional and slow-paced music. Each band member contributed something significant — if one of them were missing, the music wouldn’t have sounded the same. The unique background sounds meshed smoothly and complimented Carey’s voice, rather than drowning him out. All of the songs sounded different but still held the same mellow, steady pace.
The concert consisted of good vibes and a content audience. The performance itself was simple, reflecting the message behind Carey’s album. There were no strobe lights, special effects or smoke. Carey’s purpose was not to act pretentiously, but to humbly share his music with others. The simplicity of the show allowed the crowd to focus solely on the artist and absorb everything he had to offer. The venue’s great acoustics also contributed to the captivating sounds.
I went to the concert with one of my best friends and we enjoyed every minute of it. Unfortunately, my friend had to leave early, but that didn’t stop me from staying until the very end, even if that meant being alone. Carey’s album reminded me to do what makes me happy, so I sat in the back of the venue, put my phone away and took it all in.
I loved having the opportunity to sit back and relax, remain in the present, and enjoy the music in which I was happily immersed. I was able to unwind and appreciate the art of music. I felt as if I had been injected with a tranquilizer and entered a fantasy-like atmosphere — I was calm and at peace.
The crowd continued clapping at the end of the performance long after Carey left the stage, calling him back for an encore. During every song, Carey moved his head to the rhythm of his own beat and remained focused and immersed in his own music, just as the audience was.
After the encore, Carey passionately thanked everyone who made the show happen, including his family, fans and band members.
Carey’s appreciation for the opportunity to perform and the crowd’s appreciation for his music went hand in hand. The Hundred Acres album proclaims ordinariness, and while the performance itself adhered to that, the revitalizing and talented performer extended far beyond simplicity.
