Concert Review: A Night With Sofar
All photos courtesy of Matt Lambert
The night was filled with a rush of anticipation as I made my way to the venue. The thrill of attending my first Sofar concert. In case you are unfamiliar with Sofar Sounds, the organization was founded in 2009 by Rafe Offer. Offer invited eight of his friends over to a London flat for a low-key and intimate gig. They gathered in a living room, shared some drinks, and sat on the floor all while enjoying some music. Fast forward to 2024, Sofar is now a global community for artists and audiences, with locations across the country and world they transform everyday spaces like a rooftop or art gallery into an intimate space for live musical performances. Creating an environment for a unique and exciting experience, that for me was palpable. Arriving early, I stood outside the venue, eagerly awaiting entry. As I observed the final touches being added to the stage setup, I felt exhilaration and curiosity wash over me.
I waited about ten minutes before being let into the venue. I was immediately drawn in by how cozy the room felt. I was welcomed with a nice, light ambiance and a floor decorated with blankets and cushions. I am an avid concertgoer, and typically, am used to being pushed up against several other attendees or having people shove their way to the front, so this was a nice change. I sat at center right, waiting for the concert to start.
Before the first performer took the stage, a team member from Sofar addressed the attendees. She passionately explained Sofar’s mission: creating a space for up-and-coming artists to share their music with an audience and help establish a fan base. It serves as a stepping stone for artists to grow their platform before headlining a club venue, but it also offers a more intimate and calming space for live music-seekers. As an audience member, I was in awe of this. As concert ticket prices rise and concert etiquette seems to be disappearing, Sofar is actively working on challenging these issues. They aim to bring back the genuine joy of concert-going and sharing art.
Up first was Alex Blue; upon taking the stage, she was joined by fellow performers Léa the Leox and Claire Ernst. Blue shared that she would be performing a few songs from her upcoming album Kin. Before singing, Blue offered insight as to what inspired her to write each song. I loved this — I felt as though I got a clear picture of the thoughts and emotions Blue must've felt during each moment. Due to the artist’s ability to channel distinct emotions and describe each defining moment so clearly, it's no surprise that her songwriting is what stuck out to me the most. I felt like I was transported to the moments that were the foundations for each of her songs. That visual enabled me to better connect with her songs and understand Blue's attachment to her music. In addition, her voice extended the emotion that already existed within the lyrics. Blue’s ability to emphasize her voice with certain lines within each song aided her in conveying how she felt in those moments.
After a quick intermission, Léa the Leox took the stage. Now, when I say this girl can sing, she can SING. Her ability to hit high-high and low-low notes throughout her songs adds a nice, sultry touch to her music. On Friday, April 19, Leox dropped her acoustic EP, Purpose — a follow-up to her EP of the same title — and her set consisted of songs from this release. Previous performer Alex Blue and upcoming performer Claire Ernst also accompanied Leox. Though Leox does not play an instrument, her voice does more than enough to put on an excellent show. As she sang each song, I couldn't help but feel the passion she exerted. That passion is what I believe is going to be her biggest strength as she continues to build her career. Leox is no stranger to performing, as she was an opening act for Mariah Carey's Christmas tour. Leox's prior experience in tandem with her Sofar performance contributes to her overall class and vibrancy onstage, making her the one to watch. Leox cites that her being a Leo can also factor into her passion, which is most certainly emulated in her music and voice.
Claire Ernst, a returning Sofar Sound performer, was the last to take the stage.; At 16, she performed here, but now, at 24 years old, she is back. When I tell you this girl needs to be the next big thing, I'm not lying. The combination between her powerhouse vocals and killer skills on the piano made for a show-stopping performance. Ernst performed a few of her singles and some music from her upcoming debut album, the title is yet to be released, but set to release in June. While she definitely can perform her heart out on a ballad, she can also switch her style for, in her words, "a silly time." This was made perfectly clear by Ernst closing out her set with her song "Broke," one that truly showcases her strengths as an artist. Ernst’s angst and passion are evident in her songs, which, in my opinion, puts her on par with artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzy McAlpine. This performance made me want to see her headline her own tour.
Ernst, Blue and Leox were brought back onstage for the final song to close out the concert. The talented trio performed a rendition of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams." Each of them showcased their talents, but they simultaneously blended together exquisitely and closed out the concert with a bang. Between the incredible skills and the intimate setting, Sofar Sounds is working to bring a new, but much-needed revamp to the concert scene and gives up-and-coming artists a viable platform to grow their careers.