Lake Street Drive bring the soulful energy to Salt Lake City

By Molly McCoy

A sold out night at the Red Butte Garden, nestled in the mountain side of Salt Lake City proved to be the perfect site for an evening of fun with Lake Street Drive performing a sold out show. With soulful energy, nice blends of pop and jazz music the night was full of fun electric energy.

Opening this show was Celisse, from the moment she went on stage the audience ate up her performance. With a folky/soulful sound it was hard not to be drawn in by her beautiful vocals and her meaningful lyrics. I didn’t catch the name of her song, but she wrote one about her relationship with her father and the hardships it faced. After performing this the crowd stood in standing ovation. Before playing her last song she graciously thanked the crowd for coming out, noting that Utah fans always show up. She expressed that for all the people that come early to hear the openers, she was forever thankful as they allow her to live out her dreams. I think I can speak for the fans there, that we hope to see Celisse in Utah again soon.

The venue, takes place in a beautiful ampitheater area surrounded by gardens. While it is a serene environment, the photo pit, proved to be a challenge at this show. Since the venue was sold out there really wasn’t a great place to take unobstructed pictures. While this was challenging it gave me the opportunity to really take in the bands stage presence and how well they grasped the audiences attention.

The night started with “Good Together” an upbeat song from their new album. This song brought the audience to their feet and by the second song pretty much everyone in the venue was clapping and dancing along. Usually, photographers get the first three songs in the photo pit, this time I was allowed to shoot songs 4,5, and 6 and then could shoot throughout the audience for the rest of the show. Since I wasn’t taking pictures during the first three songs I really got to embrace the audiences reaction to the music and got to watch how entranced everyone was from the first notes.

Rachel Price, the lead singer commanded the stage in an all pink outfit that perfectly matched her deep rich vocals. I was in awe of how well she sounded live, and the way that she engaged with the audience. The band is currently touring their album “Good Together” and played a lot of song from it while also playing a good mix of some old fan favorites.

Bridget Kerney who plays the upright bass was one of my favorites through the night. I always love when bands incorporate instruments that are not commonly used in touring bands. Bridgets playing and the jazz sounds infused in their music really sets the group apart. Likewise the fellow band members, Mike Calabrese, James Cornelison and Akie Bermiss, show their skill with ease as they play and create a fun cohesive sound for the band. Throughout the night, Lake Streets playful interactions with the audience added a personal touch to the concert. Rachel fun anecdotes and humorous banter created a warm, intimate atmosphere, making it feel like an evening spent with old friends rather than a typical concert experience.

The encore was a particularly special moment, with Lake Street Dive returning to the stage to deliver 3 songs, one of which being one of my favorites, “Good Kisser.” The energy in and

outside the venue reached a high as the audience sang along, their voices blending with the band’s in a joyous celebration of music and fan connection.

In all, Lake Street Dive’s performance in Salt Lake City was a confirmation of their enduring appeal and musical excellence. Their ability to blend genres, coupled with their engaging stage presence and tight musicianship, made for a night of unforgettable music. As the crowd dispersed into the night, it was clear that Lake Street Dive had once again proved why they remain one of the most beloved artists in music.

With shows throughout the US until mid October and then a tour in the UK after the new year be sure to get tickets so you don’t miss out on the incredible performance that Lake Street Drive puts on. As for all of us in Utah, we are anxiously awaiting the day they make their return to a stage near us.