Lineup: Banks/Kevin Garrett
Venue: House of Blues Boston
Kevin Garrett: Trying to find commonalties between an artist you don't know and ones that you're familiar with is often an inevitable part of being introduced to a musical act for the first time in a live setting. In the case of Kevin Garrett, I spent a solid 10-15 minutes trying to crack that code in my head. Was he was like Sam Smith? No, his delivery is too reserved. Ed Sheeran perhaps? No, there wasn't any dance, folk or hip-hop undertones.
Then after he pulled out an acoustic guitar during his third or fourth song, my petty quest for an apt description had finally been conquered. Garret's music was like if you paired the mellow, playing guitar on a park bench vibes of John Mayer and Jack Johnson with the agreeable anonymity of current male alternative R&B stars like Khalid and 6LACK. In other words, his voice is pleasant and the music is inoffensive yet rarely ever exciting.
The crowd seemed to share my lack of palpable enthusiasm as everything outside of a pair of crowdpleasing albeit effective covers (When the Party's Over by Billie Eilish and Pray You Catch Me by Beyoncé-which he co-wrote and produced) received a pretty lukewarm response. The talent is definitely there, his shit was just way too monotonous to successfully sustain a 45 minute set.
Banks: I don't know if it was just good luck due to this being the third night of the tour for her new record III or she's just somehow become a tighter, fiercer live act since her last touring cycle ended in summer 2017, but Jillian Banks was on a warpath that was unlike anything I'd seen from her in the past. Without the vocal touchups and general sense of tidiness that comes with the polish of a studio recording, the raw emotional core of III came to life with titanic force live. While just about every track soared to new heights live, the funky swagger of "Alaska" and poignant soul searching of "Sawzall" were injected with a level of juice that would make even Jose Conseco blush. Banks' unimpeded vocal acrobatics paired with the presence of the live instrumentation that she doesn't tend to have on record made for a pure juggernaut duo. It'll be interesting to see if the power these tracks had live ends up having any effect on my opinion once I go back and listen to them again.
Singing prowess is just part of what makes Banks' live shows such a treat. The other major competent that helps her ascend to the elite tier of performers is the mesmerizing sensory overload that accompanies each song. She utilizes bold, intoxicating lighting choices and with the assist of her pair of backup dancers, intricate choreography that matches the tone of every song. I wish more artists would put this much attention to detail into the secondary elements of their shows. Having a carefully crafted, vivid backdrop that complements your songs can help turn a terrific musicianship exhibition into a full-on immersive, visceral experience. Without question, one of the best performances I've seen in 2019 and yet another step forward as a performer for pop's resident goddess.
Grades:
Kevin Garrett: C+
Banks: A
Setlists:
Kevin Garrett included:
Pray You Catch Me (Beyoncé cover)
When the Party's Over (Billie Eilish cover)
Banks:
Till Now
Underdog
Stroke
Drowning
Waiting Game
Contaminated
Hawaiian Mazes
Alaska
Propaganda
Poltergeist
Fuck with Myself
Sawzall
Better
Gemini Feed
Godless
The Fall
Gemini Feed
Gimme
Encore:
Look What You're Doing to Me
Beggin for Thread
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