By Kacie Owen
Opening the night at Empire Underground in Albany, NY on April 17th, Hudson Ingram brought forth an easy joy that immediately began settling the room into warmth and presence. I recall an audience member turning to me begging if I knew his name, as his music already began resonating with him. Hudson’s set was clearly exactly what was needed before Brenn took the stage.
By the time Brenn came out, the space was packed shoulder to shoulder overflowing into the bar, absolutely buzzing with anticipation. It did not take long for that energy to spill over. Early on he inquisitively polled the crowd – yay or nay on the new stache – where he earned a resounding acceptance that he could in fact “pull it off.” This accompanied with showcasing his beloved repaired hat that has seen the love and slobber of his dog helped set the tone for night – playful, connected, unguarded.
The audience barely let him sing alone. Voices carried every lyric back to him, as they were prepared to hold the weight of the songs with him. Brenn spoiled the crowd by teasing the unreleased title track of his upcoming album. Despite the unfamiliarity, the crowd held space with curiosity and trust to truly hear him.
Before playing Revival he joked that he better play it right, as his “biggest fan” of the song (boasting over 40k listens) was present front and center. The joke landed with a boisterous chuckle from the crowd, yet it was a quiet acknowledgment of just how deeply his music lives with people.
Nearing the end of the show, the room softened as they all came together to sing happy birthday to Mia. Spotted in the crowd by Brenn where she was dawning an “its my birthday” sash. It is small human moments like these that can make even the most packed venue feel intimate.
What lingered most wasn’t the volume or the crowd participation, but the feeling beneath it all. There was something about the experience – as if the crowd wasn’t just there to hear the music, but to release something through it. You could feel, in a very real way, the healing his music has offered.
Brenn! Photo Gallery:
Setlist:
Looking For, Footing, Jesus Song, Water, Upstate, Brand New Car, Rearview, Somehow Made It Out, iwbtotsy, AAB, Revival, Days On End, Franklin House, 4Runner
Hudson Ingram Photo Gallery:
