Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore
Date: 10th September 2012
Promoter: Greenhorn Productions
Review by: Mandy L.
Special Thanks: Sylvia & the Greenhorn Productions team
Successful indie singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson performed to an eager audience of over a thousand on a Monday night at the Esplanade Concert Hall in her debut showcase in Singapore. Opening act Greg Laswell won over the audience with his funny man personality—“It’s just me tonight, without my band, so I’m here to make you sad.” and of course, mesmerizing vocals, with his acoustic rendition of Comes and Goes (in Waves) and soulful ballad High and Low.
Photo Credit: Joanna Kwa
Five songs later, Michaelson and her band—Allie Moss and Bess Rogers, took to the stage, sending ripples of cheers and screams throughout the concert hall. Dressed in a long-tailed asymmetrical black tank and shorts with stockings that covered her legs in tattoos, it was apparent that Michaelson was no stranger to the crowd that day. Ardent fans excitedly lapped up her every word as she captivated the audience with her robust and sultry vocals, and quirky and entertaining personality.
Photo Credit: Joanna Kwa
From impromptu ditties about Singapore—“Dance, dance, Singapore, get your booty on the floor”, to tales about snuggling up with a stranger companion on the train and her take on Singapore’s chewing gum laws, Michaelson brought Comedy Central to the Esplanade Concert Hall that night, having the audience eating right out of the palm of her hand.
Photo Credit: Joanna Kwa
Crooning out pitch perfect tunes, Michaelson showcased her crystal clear vocals and musical talent as she effortlessly strummed on the ukulele and came up with classic piano pieces on the spot. During her duet with Greg Laswell The Light in Me which they wrote together, the chemistry between the lovebirds was evident. Melodious with perfect harmonizing, the duet was undeniably one of her best songs.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Kwa
In her cover of Bon Iver’s Skinny Love, Michaelson showed off her vocal range and stamina as she held on to the last note for a good 15 seconds, sending the crowd wild with frenzy. Black and Blue was a snazzy jazz number that featured a hip upbeat with dark underlying tones that blended together at the chorus.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Kwa
A musical treat to our ears, it was no wonder that the queue for the post-concert autograph session snaked its way all the way down to the end of the hallway. With none of that snobbish, I’m-an-artist diva attitude, you can be sure this singer-songwriter will be going places.
Setlist:
- This is War
- Parachute
- Corner of Your Heart
- Do It Now
- Blood Brothers
- Ghost
- Can’t Help Falling in Love (Elvis Presley cover)
- The Light in Me (with Greg Laswell)
- Skinny Love (Bon Iver cover)
- Black and Blue
- Maybe
- The Chain
Encore:
- Be OK
- The Way I Am