reCAP :: Ray Lamontagne :: 2016.06.21
It’s always poetry in motion anytime Ray LaMontagne hits the stage. The New Hampshire singer/songwriter’s rasp are unmistakable and chill-inducing and when its matched with his often heartbreaking lyrics, it’s hard not to be moved. This is a man bearing his soul.
At the Capitol Theatre on June 21, the New Hampshire singer/songwriter started off the show with six songs with just that: the artist and his strings. Pins probably dropped during this part of the set but you’d never know. The only sound from the crowd were Ric Flair “whooos” after a song or when he nailed the choruses, which was always. “I love this room,” he gushed after the initial songs but he’s not one for chit chat. He did, however, joke that he looks the same as he did when he started it all 15 years ago because he doesn’t exercise. Whether that joke landed or not was totally irrelevant.
He closed out the first part with “Trouble,” arguably his biggest hit and the song that put him on the proverbial map, and was then joined by My Morning Jacket’s Tom Blankenship, Patrick Hallahan, and Car Broemel. From there, the evening became a psychedelic mind trip (a moon fittingly served as the backdrop) with the band playing tracks off LaMontagne’s experimental and appropriately Jim James-produced Ouroboros album.
Admittedly, some of the audience may have been caught off guard by the “new sound,” because the noise levels elevated a bit but the faithful went on the spiritual journey. The highlight of the night by far - aside from Till the Sun Turns Black tandem of “Empty” and “Be Here Now” - was the almost Led meets Floyd number “Hey, No Pressure” which was made for vinyl.
Whether you longed for more of the vintage Ray or embraced what essentially felt like My Morning ‘Montagne, you have to give the Grammy Award winner credit. With his authentic deep emotion and vocals, he could easily get by churning out the same record one after the other. Instead, he’s challenging himself sonically with each record whether it’s with Ouroboros or his classic whiskey-soaked folk God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise with the Pariah Dogs. Authenticity is hard to find these days in the industry, and it was front and center at The Cap.