Concert Review: Sean Rowe @ Caffe Lena, 08/19/2023

SARATOGA SPRINGS – On Saturday, August 19th, Sean Rowe, with a voice larger than life, gave a rare but welcomed performance at the historic Caffe Lena. Playing to a packed crowd, he deftly demonstrated just how unique his music is, playing for ninety minutes straight and utilizing a myriad of guitar pedals rarely seen in an acoustic setting. With a voice that could crush coal into diamonds, anyone there who didn’t know him received one hell of an introduction.

Opening with a Blaze Foley tune, “If I Could Only Fly,” Rowe joked that he liked playing a cover first, noting that he didn’t want any potentially bad starts to be on his tunes. Navigating the stage with such ease and humor is always refreshing to see, and this night bore no exception. Shifting gears into a newly penned song (and in the process of being workshopped on the road), Rowe played a contemplatively somber tune called “Tempting Illusions.” Noting the song will be on his next record, this author can’t wait to hear the finalized product.

One of the things that really catch my ears each and every time is his command of dynamics, both vocally and instrumentally, as well as his unique blend of guitar sounds. Using a stereo setup on an acoustic and running both electric and acoustic sounds is something I’ve never seen prior to Rowe. He really exemplified these characteristics of his craft when performing songs like “Married to the Lord” and “Squid Tattoo” off his last record, The Darkness Dressed in Colored Lights, as well as “To Leave Something Behind.” On the guitar front, Rowe uses an octave pedal, distortion pedal, and a dollar bill woven into his strings; how to get the fantastically erratic sounds heard on “Joe’s Cult.”

Though the guitar is his main instrument, Rowe continuously showcased his harmonica abilities – swelling and receding perfectly with the guitar – in songs such as “The Very First Snow,” “Soldier’s Song,” and the enigmatic version of the Dolly Parton classic “Jolene.”

Speaking of covers, this is a big part of what makes Rowe’s show so full of life. You never know what you’re going to hear! From Blaze Foley to Bruce Springsteen, to Nick Cave, to Bob Dylan, and Dolly Parton, the singer-songwriter is wonderfully all over the map, making each song his own. When an artist or band can take a previously recorded tune, freshen it up, and deliver it in such a unique and compelling way, in the ears of this author, they truly have something going. My favorite cover song that night was either “Red Right Hand,” where Rowe combined a whammy pedal, with distortion pedals (on an acoustic?!), or “Jolene,” in which he sang the country classic in such a bluesy fashion that it turned into a completely new song. 

Closing with “Birds,” the third new song performed that night, Rowe held the attention of the audience in such a captivating manner throughout the entire event. Humbly thanking the crowd and walking off-stage, it was clear just how thankful and appreciative the crowd was that evening. 

Setlist:

• If I Could Only Fly [Blaze Foley]
• Tempting Illusions
• Married to the Lord
• Squid Tattoo
• Soldier’s Song
• Joe’s Cult
• To Leave Something Behind
• The River [Bruce Springsteen]
• Burn, Baby, Burn
• Red Right Hand [Nick Cave]
• The Very First Snow
• Girl From the North Country [Bob Dylan]
• Jolene [Dolly Parton]
• Birds