What a treat! I got to see Jason Castro perform an acoustic set at the 939 Club in Boston last night. The venue, part of the esteemed Berklee School of Music, held a couple hundred people at most, and had beautiful acoustics.
Unfortunately, I was standing near the back, making it difficult to video the concert. But I did it, and you can view the results after the jump. The camera is a little shaky, and the view is obstructed at times, but the sound is High Quality (thanks to those terrific acoustics!) So check it out!
Jason performed, accompanied by guitarist Stephen Kanicka, most of the tunes from his new 5 song EP, The Love Uncompromised EP. I’m not gonna lie–not a big fan of the single, “Let’s Just Fall in Love”–jaunty whistling isn’t exactly my thing. However, the live stripped down version loses the cutsey quality of the studio version.
Jason brought that raw quality to all the tunes he performed. “Love Uncompromised” and the “You Can Always Come Home” (with opener, Caitlin Crosby adding a beautiful descant) are both solid tunes, rendered beautifully by Jason’s unique phrasing.
My favorite of the night, though, was the gentle and sweetly melodic, “It Matters To Me”, a tune set to appear on the upcoming album. Seriously gorgeous peeps.
Unfortunately, I didn’t catch any of the in between song patter, but Jason handled the room easily. Not just a guy with a guitar, watching Jason perform tonight reminded me of the moment he stepped out of the shadows on Top 12 night to sing “Daydream”. Jason’s obvious charisma catches your attention, but it’s a charm that’s easy and effortless.
Jason performed a couple of Idol favorites: Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” the song he couldn’t get cleared for Idol (but subsequently sang on tour) and closed the tour with the brilliant “Hallelujah”.
Jason was bookended by the quirky Caitlin Crosby on one end, and adult contemporary rocker, Matt Hires on the other. After he finished his set, Jason did a meet and greet (that’s where I got the photo!) He really wanted to catch Matt’s set, but Jason spent most of it out in the lobby, meeting every fan who waited in line. (Including one who had his lyrics tattooed on her ankle. Her mother proudly snapped a photo)
If you get the opportunity to catch Jason on this tour, do it! Jason + new songs + intimate setting = Full of Win.
Videos after the JUMP…
That’s What I’m Here For
Love Uncompromised
Crazy
It Matters to Me
If I Were You
You Can Always Go Home
Let’s Just Fall In Love
Hallelujah
