Live Review - Andy Shauf w/ Molly Sarle
Andy Shauf with Molly Sarle
February 29, 2020 at The Starlite Room
Molly Sarle takes to The Starlite Room stage on a cold winter night in Edmonton, AB. She is on tour with and opening a sold-out show for Andy Shauf. Her expressive voice captures the crowd and warms us from the bitter wind we have just escaped. Although I have never heard Sarle before, it is instantly obvious why she is on tour with Shauf – they are both quiet, yet captivating, open-hearted folksters.
Andy Shauf could be the poster child for the book The Introvert Advantage: How Quiet People Can Thrive in an Extrovert World. Since the release of The Party and The Bearer of Bad News he has become somewhat of a Canadian celebrity (he played on Jimmy Kimmel earlier this month) known for his keen storytelling. I have seen Shauf perform before and seeing him a second time confirms his consistencies. What he forgoes in stage banter he makes up for in a patiently precise performance. His “thank you” reminds you of the typical, somewhat awkward introvert; yet his shyness does not impact his performance, he always holds the room’s attention full scale. He truly is an introvert thriving in an extrovert world. Despite his demure, this was one of the loudest and excited crowds I have seen in some time. Although he did play some of his old material, this time he primarily played songs from his most recent release, a concept album titled The Neon Skyline, that centers around a nameless protagonist and his ex-girlfriend Judy. Regardless of what tracks Andy Shauf plays, he makes his fans swoon with his signature mumble, masterful art of the crescendo and perfect arrangement of instruments. Catch him on tour now, across Canada and Europe and hurry – before the show sells out!
- Nicola Gunter
