Image courtesy of megmeyerphotos.com
Life is but a collection of moments. Infinite moments to learn, grow, breath, dance, run, cry, laugh, and who knows what else. Isn’t it lovely how the smallest moments, the ones you thought would go by in a flash, end up being ones of overwhelming beauty; the ones that may very well define your existence. Seeing LANY live will be added to my pool of moments, moments I hope to never forget. The venue alone was a spectacular sight. With a dome-shaped, vaulted ceiling and crystal chandeliers lining the walls, The Showbox on 1st Avenue impressed me from the start.
Opening for LANY was Dagny, a band composed of two men and one adorable woman. They trotted onto the stage with enthusiasm and charisma and took the crowd by storm. Dagny jumped, she danced, she ran around the stage like an excited child, and you could really tell she wanted to be there. After each amazing song she beamed and thanked the crowd for being there and for our enthusiasm. She informed us that this was their “last stop after 7 weeks of touring before heading home” and made sure to end with a bang. Their energy was infectious, and I couldn’t help but smile. They ended their (too short) set with “Wearing Nothing” and the floor bounced with the beat of the music, the crowd had their hands in the sky, and joy filled the room.
A stage change revealed three large screens, a piano, a drum set, and a soundboard. When LANY came to the stage (all members looking as handsome as ever) the crowd erupted. Lights filled the room from the large screen behind the band as they played “Dumb Stuff” to start their show. Paul danced about the stage and engaged with the audience creating such a fun and lively feel within the small Showbox venue. This too was LANY’s last U.S. show before touring abroad to British Columbia and Europe.
The show integrated art with sound. With every new song came a new visual on the screens that back lit the band. When “Flowers On the Floor” was being performed, three bright, vibrant roses were displayed. As a testament to their attention to detail and their dedication to art that compliments music, LANY had a different visual, carefully catered to and for each individual song. Blues, greens, pinks, reds, rainbow gradients, whites; all flooded the eyes of their audience and overwhelmed the senses in a beautifully way.
They played a mix of music, from more upbeat songs, which had the audience jumping and singing, to more mellow songs played on the piano that quieted down the crowd as we listened and absorbed the amazing music.
Looking around the venue I saw teenagers and adults. I saw individuals with their eyes closed, engulfed in the music as their bodies subconsciously swayed to the music. I saw couples dance and kiss and smile from ear to ear. I saw tears run down cheeks and I saw hands in the air, trying to absorb every last ounce of magic that radiated off the stage.
Music has the potential to heal the human heart. As I stood in a crowd of strangers, there was no hate, there was no anger. This music has the power to transcend the boundaries of the human condition. Surrounded by hundreds of people I don’t know and will never get the chance to know, we have one thing in common: for one night our hearts beat together to the rhythm of the same music.
This is LANY.
You can connect with LANY through their social media platforms on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, or on their Official Website.
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