JAKE MINCH BRINGS HIS LATEST ALBUM ‘GEORGE’ TO NEW YORK
THE SONG & DANCE — SYRACUSE, NY
Last Wednesday, Connecticut-born indie-folk artist Jake Minch brought MORE GEORGE ON TOUR to Syracuse at The Song & Dance. Supporting his newest album, George, fans lined up outside the venue doors well before doors opened just to get a good spot. It was a night full of enchanting music enjoyed by the entire crowd.
By the time opener folk-singer Darryl Rahn took the stage, the Song & Dance was full of excited fans. Rahn was accompanied just by his acoustic guitar, but his presence filled the stage. Before going into his first song, Rahn explained that he grew up nearby in Utica, making this show almost a homecoming performance for him. His set ranged from songs like “Silent Acknowledgment” to a cover of a song by The Shins. His intricate fingerpicking wove through melancholic vocals, and by the midway point of his set, you could hear the crowd murmuring lyrics back to him.
Before Minch’s headlining set, the audience was buzzing with anticipation. His pre-show playlist was an eclectic mix, ranging from songs by the Fleet Foxes to ironic Minecraft parodies, leaving the waiting crowd laughing at each switch-up. Fans were also eagerly debating what songs he would perform, quickly making new friends with each other. As soon as the lights dimmed for Minch’s performance, the crowd burst in applause and rapidly quieted down for his set.
Joined by three of his band members, Jake Minch graced the stage with his presence. Sitting down on a stool, he grabbed his guitar and immediately went into the opening track off of George, “Nostalgia Act”. His somber voice cut through the venue, each word hanging in the air between each guitar strum, with the room so quiet, you could hear his fingers strumming along on the strings. Minch performed the next two songs, “moms new car” and “jessie”, leaving the crowd in awe through his performance.
His bandmates quickly joined him, filling in the empty spaces with their lush instrumentation, adding to the intimate atmosphere of the show. His guitarist switched between lap steel, guitar, and banjo throughout the set, complementing the slight country-twang in Minch’s voice. In between songs, Minch’s voice instantly switched to a deadpan, comedic tone and cracked jokes while his band tuned up. Midway through his set, he brought Rahn back out to join him on stage for “Fucked Up”. The pair sat next to each other with Rahn playing on his guitar and providing occasional harmonies.
The rest of Minch’s performance was full of audience favorites such as his hit song “Fingers and Clothes”, which had the crowd singing along. By the time he left the stage, the audience was left begging for more, but were ultimately satisfied. As one of the last shows on this tour leg before he wraps up in his home state in Connecticut, it is clear why Minch has built such a devoted following. His ability to turn a packed venue into something that feels like a living room conversation is a rare gift in folk music.
