When I arrived at the Belcourt Theater to a packed house, Lucy Schwartz was already at the head of her performance; aside from the “reserved” section, there was not a single seat open. As she performed,the acoustics of the theater were arresting. Lucy’s show progressed with attractive melodies and a showcase of multi-instrumental talent. She’s an excellent songwriter, and it shines through as she bounces between keyboard and acoustic guitar. For a few songs, she further displayed her talent by looping vocal harmonies and guitar lines. Her music is charming, and her character envelops every note. After a brief intermission, the Civil Wars took the stage to a crowd smiling in anticipation.
The Civil Wars are known for their chemistry, but on this night the energy poured back and forth between performer and audience. During “Barton Hollow,” the title track to their new album, the crowd created a haunting choir by clapping to the heavy rhythm and whispering the chorus. Their best moments came in softer songs like “Girl With The Red Balloon,” during which you could hear a pin drop. Crowd favorites “Poison and Wine” and “Falling” humbled the audience as well. They even put a beautiful, ghastly spin on covers of The Smashing Pumpkin’s “Disarm,” Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and childhood favorite “You Are My Sunshine.”
Their incredible sense of playfulness enhanced songs like “I’ve Got This Friend.” With wide smiles and glances to one another, they sang the chorus: “If the right one came/If the right one came along," and it was obvious that the crowd didn’t show up just to support them; they showed up to show how proud they are. – Marc Chirico