REVIEW & Gallery: Jake Minch Live in New York
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY DANI WEINSTEIN ☆
JAKE MINCH BROUGHT AN INTIMATE NIGHT TO THE SONG & DANCE - exactly what fans needed on a cold Wednesday night in Syracuse. As the 12th stop on his “More George on tour”, Minch filled the room with happy tears and laughter, offering a heartfelt glimpse into his life through his curated setlist.
When I first saw that Jake Minch was coming to Syracuse, I was shocked. None of my favorite artists ever seems to make their way out here. Being from outside of Philadelphia with a lively music scene, I have been waiting for someone to come upstate, and he is exactly what I’d waited for. Even fans on Instagram were confused about why Syracuse made the cut, but the answer became clear: Syracuse University students!
As a new fan of Jake Minch's, I listened to his music on repeat once I saw he was coming to town - I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if one of his songs ended up on my Spotify Wrapped.
At 7:30 p.m., opener Darryl Rahn came out and set the mood for the night. Everyone showed out for him, and he was very grateful. Hailing from Utica, NY, he was nostalgic to be back in Syracuse because he played his first show at Funk ‘n Waffles. He cracked some jokes to the crowd and covered “New Slang” by The Shins, which went perfectly with his unique voice. He then played his new EP, Bright Side, and ended his set with my personal favorite song of his, “Silent Acknowledgement." Rahn knows how to leave the crowd starry-eyed, and he definitely gained some new fans that night.
Jake Minch came out at 8:30 p.m. and opened his set on a somber note with a beautifully delivered performance of “Nostalgia Acts.” He followed it with one of my favorites, “Changed Things,” a song that the entire room seemed to feel deeply. Tears were shed, hands were held and heads rested on shoulders as they took in the heartfelt lyrics. The mood shifted when Darryl Rahn returned to the stage to join him for “Fucked Up” and a few more songs, adding a new layer of energy. The tempo lifted again with “Say Uncle”, and Minch also invited artist and photographer Kate Stevenson to the stage to sing.
Between songs, Minch talked to the crowd and asked if any Syracuse University students were in the room. When he followed up by asking for the name of the SU mascot and the crowd yelled “Otto,” he laughed and lit up with a smile. The little conversations with the crowd really meant a lot to fans.
One of the most memorable moments came during “Fingers and Clothes,” when he had to restart after breaking into laughter over something he had said while introducing the track. Shortly after, Minch stepped off the main stage, set his stool on the walkout, sat down, and sang “Twice.” It was one of the most intimate parts of the night - looking around with pure admiration for the love in the room. He closed the night with “First I Was,” a soft-fitting ending to a heartfelt show. Jake Minch is a must-see, as he is so full of talent.
