By Katie Klimacek
Opinion Editor
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On Friday, Oct. 17, Saint Rose’s Picotte Recital Hall was bustling with anxious fans awaiting a show from Howie Day and Mary Lambert. The concert was one presented by the Massry Center for the Arts, orchestrated by Sal Prizio.
The show began with artist Howie Day. He came out to a rousing bout of applause from the audience. Playing about seven songs lasting about an hour, Day’s performance was high energy. His performance included looping, play back, and beats, which made his songs sound like there was a full band playing with him, despite being the only one on stage. He was greeted with applause after every song.
During his set he played two new songs that have not yet been released to the public. Before playing one new song, “Tree Tops,” Day said, “ I hope I remember the lyrics and tempo.”
For what was believed to be his last song, Day played his well- known 2004 single, “Collide.” He started off with saying that it was a new song, but once he played the first few chords there were gasps of excitement from the audience. He ended up playing one more song after, saying that he thought it was too ironic and obvious to end with “Collide.” Regardless, judging by its reaction, the audience loved it.
After his set was over, there was a 15-minute intermission. By then the auditorium was completely filled with fans of all ages waiting for Mary Lambert to make her Saint Rose appearance.
When the stage door opened up, the crowd erupted into a boisterous applause. “You are making me blush,” Lambert said when she sat down at her computer after the minute-long applause. She instantly connected with the audience saying, “You are all beautiful, are you guys ready to cry? Ready to hear about body image?”
The first song that she performed, “When You Sleep,” was off of her new album, Heart on My Sleeve, which was released last Tuesday. After the song the audience once again erupted into applause. Lambert was humbled by the reaction that her fans gave her.
“I have to talk about an uncomfortable thing,” she said before starting her next song. “I am going to take you on an emotional roller coaster.” Lambert, who is clinically bipolar and openly talks about it, uses that as inspiration to write and perform her songs. One song she performed, “Born Sad,” has never been released before. She talked about how she grew up as a “sad child” due to her experiences with bipolar and being abused as a child.
“It was just about everything I wanted to say. This song isn’t on record. I imagine it might be on one in the future, but it means so much to me. I think it really communicates to everyone as to what it is like to have that struggle.”
At the beginning of her set Lambert said she was going to make everyone cry. She did exactly that when she performed “Body Love.” The song was her first spoken piece that she wrote. Before she started she talked about how she got to this song and why she decides to write.
“If we keep on perpetrating this idea of unattainable beauty, we are constantly going to feel less. So I want you to know that you are worthy and deserving of love.”
The crowd gave Lambert a standing ovation after the song, which was accompanied by sniffles from the audience. In-between each of her songs she interacted with the audience, talking about the inspiration for her songs and what led her to writing about it.
She expressed how she wants to always connect with everyone and based upon the feedback from the audience, she was able to connect with people on some level that not all artists are able to. One of her band members and best friend, Tim Mendonsa, knows first hand how Lambert is able to connect with people.
After working with her in a restaurant the two clicked very quickly on an emotional level. When she started her music career and needed band members, Lambert asked her best friend if he wanted to be in her band.
On whether Lambert is any different from her personality on stage, Mendonsa replied “Not even a little bit. She is pretty genuine with everything. What she portrays and talks about, she means.”
It is clear that she put a lot of emotion into her performance and songs. The way that she was able to reach out into the audience and trigger something in all of them is something that not every artist is able to do. Carly Weller, a sophomore at the College, experienced first hand Lambert’s ability to connect.
“It was like she was having a conversation with you even though it was a full house,” said Weller. Weller, who only knew a few songs before going to see the show, enjoyed the connection that Lambert was able to have with her audience. She enjoyed Day’s performance, but felt he lacked the same connection. Nonetheless, she enjoyed his raw talent.
Weller further expressed that students should take advantage of the performances that the College offers. After seeing Todd the Wet Sprocket last year she knew that she would be coming back to see whoever was performing.
Lambert finished her set by thanking the audience for the great time she had. “Thank you for letting me talk about the things I care about and letting me be vulnerable and letting yourself be vulnerable.”
