Gregory Alan Isakov and Ray LaMontagne, two of the most influential American songwriters of the 21st century joined forces on September 12th and took over the YouTube Theater in Inglewood, California. While the former has been on a year-long tour to promote his latest work Appaloosa Bones (2023), Ray LaMontagne only released his ninth studio album Long Way Home last August. This leg of the tour featured Erin Rae, trusted with the task of warming up the crowd for the two giants.
The YouTube theater was half empty when Erin Rae took the stage, but upon hearing her melodies, everyone rushed in. Erin, and Ryan Stigmon on steel pedal, played a very intimate set with songs from her first record Puttin On Airs (2018) and newer songs including the unreleased ”Summer Lightning” and her latest single “On Her Side,” released on June 5th.
At 7:45 Gregory Alan Isakov and his five-piece band took the stage to bring the audience on a trip around the world with its usual show strongly characterised by atmospheric lighting where the music is the main focus — not the musicians. The journey began with “Southern Star,” followed by “Amsterdam” and then “St Louis.” While Isakov, for the most part, stays faithful to his unique sound deeply rooted in the mountains of Colorado where he made his home, some newer tracks like “The Fall” and “Before The Sun” explore a dryer, heavier tones creating a more desertic soundscape. The pinnacles of the set were the fan favourites: “This Empty Northern Hemisphere” and “Big Black Car” with an outro enriched by the solos of Gregory Alan Isakov’s long-time friends and musicians. At the end of the set the six gathered at the front of the stage for a very emotional moment in which they played stripped down versions of “Silver Bell” and “The Stable Song” leaving the audience in awe.
Ray Lamontagne is promoting his newest record The Long Way Home (2024) on this tour and naturally the set included a fair few songs from it including the up-tempo “Step Into Your Power”, a catchy reminder to a younger listener — perhaps himself — to be aware of their own power and act upon it. His three-piece (bass, drums and steel pedal) and him also played older classics including “You Are The Best Thing” and “Such A Simple Thing,” along with “My Lady Fair” and “I Wouldn’t Change A Thing” and well as the title track completed the set which featured “Beg Steal & Borrow” from his record with the Pariah Dogs. Upon closing, Ray LaMontagne reminisced how his album Trouble (2004) had recently turned 20 years old and how he forced himself to listen to it again, rediscovering all the sharp edges of his music were still intact in its youth. Before sending everyone home, Ray LaMontagne played two hits from that album: “Jolene” and “Trouble” .
The tour is not over yet! Catch Gregory Alan Isakov and Ray LaMontagne on tour this fall:
9/14 San Diego, CA – 9/15 Phoenix, AZ – 10/1 H. Charleston, SC – 10/2 Ashleyville, NC – 10/4 Cincinnati, OH – 10/5 Indianapolis, IN – 10/6 Franklin, TN – 10/8 Baltimore, MD – 10/9 Charlottesville, VA – 10/11 Atlanta, GA – 10/12 Charlotte, NC – 10/13 Raleigh, NC
SETLISTS:
Gregory Alan Isakov:
1. Southern Star
2. The Fall
3. Amsterdam
4. St Louis
5. This Empty Northern Hemisphere
6. Miles To Go
7. Big Black Car
8. Second Chances
9. Before The Sun
10. Liars
11. Silver Bell
12. The Stable Song
Ray LaMontagne:
1. It Takes Me Back
2.Step Into Your Power
3. Strong Enough
4. I Wouldn’t Change A Thing
5. Roll Me Mama, Roll Me
6. You Are The Best Thing
7. Such A Simple Thing
8. My Lady Fair
9. Beg, Steal & Borrow
10. Long Way Home
11. Jolene
12. Trouble
RAY LAMONTAGNE, GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV, ERIN RAE — SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 — YOUTUBE THEATER (LOS ANGELES)
