Lawrence @ Union Stage - 5/17/2018
Lawrence has some “New Stuff” to unleash upon the world.
The brother and sister duo of Clyde and Gracie Lawrence (alongside seven of their best friends) have performed all over the country and overseas - even the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (We covered them twice in 2016, at Songbyrd and U Street Music Hall in DC - both shows were in support of their debut album Breakfast.) Now, the tremendously upbeat band is prepping for the release of their sophomore album, Living Room. Though it won’t be released until September, the Union Stage crowd in DC were the first on this tour to hear a few of the songs from the upcoming album.
The horn section of Lawrence getting down at Union Stage (photo by Mauricio Castro / @themauricio)
Together, Clyde and Gracie pack a vocal wallop that few brother/sister duos can claim. Not only are they musically and vocally talented, but the rest of the band is a whole lot of fun to watch, too. This soulful group is a well-oiled machine by now, but still as playful and loose as their DC show two years earlier. Johnny Ko and company held down the guitar/bass section to the right side of the stage, while the horn section with their synchronized two-steps had the crowd on the left side dancing along with them. As the first night of their New Stuff Tour, this was the first time the band got to play some of their new songs, but it’s safe to say that they were a hit with the crowd.
“Woe is Me” and “Probably Up” are soulful and fun songs that continue down the musical path that the band set out on with Breakfast. It’s not a new sound, but it’s a damn good one. Of course, the band isn’t one to shy away from a few reworked covers, either. Their covers of Sean Paul’s “Get Busy” and closing cover of Christina Aguilera’s “Come On Over Baby” are songs that many a millennial will remember very well. It’s safe to say that Lawrence will continue to be a force to be reckoned with - they’re all having the time of their lives on stage, and that positivity is infectious.
Lawrence’s upcoming sophomore album Living Room will be released in September on Same Wavelength.
NYC-based musician Victory was the first opener for Lawrence. Her combination of R&B and folk is a unique and captivating combination that music lovers should be on the lookout for. Her latest release is the single “Open Your Eyes” on Roc Nation Records.
NYC-based R&B/soul-pop singer Michael Blume was the second opener of the night and kept the energy level high with winning dance moves interspersed with some introspective, inspiring lyricism. His next EP cynicism & sincerity will be released June 8 on S-Curve Records.
