Review and Photos by Jacklyn Lipscomb
Live from Mohawk Place in Buffalo, New York, October 28th, 2021
For the first time in nearly two years, artists and bands from all over the world are slowly starting to make their return to the United States to tour and to promote the music they have been working so hard to create during quarantine. Musicians and concert enthusiasts alike finally have something to look forward to again; But it seems that nobody is happier to return to the stage than BANNERS.
Michael Nelson, the mastermind behind the project of BANNERS, hit the road again for his first headlining tour across the U.S. in two years last Thursday evening at Mohawk Place in Buffalo, New York. Joined by the eclectic pop stylings of fellow rising artist Julian Lamadrid, the pair succeeded in delivering a show that was unforgettable to anyone who was lucky enough to attend.
The Liverpool based singer-songwriter is best known for his catchy pop rock anthems, inspirational lyrics, and complex vocals that are amplified by a dynamic range of high and low notes sung with effortless precision. From the second he stepped foot onto the stage, Mike’s smile was almost infectious to everyone in the room. Opening with a brand new, never-before heard track could have been a risky move, but as soon as the lights came on and the signature BANNERS style guitars and drums kicked in, the audience was instantly hooked. In a way, watching Nelson hit the spotlight almost felt like a reunion with an old friend, a sentiment that was clearly shared by the performer onstage and the adoring crowd as he expressed how “lovely it was to see everyone” and continued to shake his head while laughing in awe, “I didn’t think I’d get to do this again.”
Moments later, he dove head-first into a healthy mix of old and new tracks with fan favorites like “Shine a Light,” “Serenade,” “Got It In You,” “Gold Dust,” and another unreleased song called “Somewhere in your Universe”- a title not unfamiliar to those who have tuned into one of his many Instagram livestreams during the pandemic. “It’s already a problem when you sound sort of similar to Coldplay,” Nelson announced when expressing his ongoing desire to get the track released into the world, “But then they go on and release a song with just about one of the biggest pop bands in the world right now, which just so happens to have a similar title.”
Even though the small venue created an extremely intimate environment, the singer had no problems using it to his advantage, employing his witty humor and charming stage presence to command the limited space at all times. It’s not often to go to a show and be met with a barrage of lighthearted giggles from the audience members between every few songs, but for BANNERS, that’s just part of the package deal. At one point, he even had to get the crowd to tone down, warning them about a sad song that was soon to come their way. His overall attentiveness to the people in the room was endearing as he praised everyone’s polite comments and even honored a fan’s hushed request for “Half Light” that was previously unplanned for the show. There was a shift in the atmosphere for that special ballad, the audience suddenly falling silent while reveling in the beautiful melancholy vocals and impromptu instrumental arrangement. Amongst the dimmed lights and a few exchanges of tearful glances between both friends and strangers, there was a newfound unspoken consciousness of the fact that the room was a safe space to allow themselves to feel the emotional significance of the words filling the air.
Towards the end of his set, Mike apologized to the audience for not being able to chat or to give hugs like he normally would, due to the ongoing pandemic. Despite a slight chorus of sighs, Mike promised to compromise with a special acoustic version of “Someone To You” deemed as his “practice run” before throwing himself into the real deal. The lively track is the artist’s most widely acclaimed single due to a sudden explosion on TikTok and mainstream radio earlier last year. Capturing the true essence of BANNERS, the crowd erupted into a group of cheers for one last time, filling the venue with the sound of their singing, dancing, clapping, and sense of pure euphoria. It would have been impossible for anyone watching the musician in front of them not to smile at the sight of inexplicable joy plastered across Nelson’s face, but as he put it, “I don’t know if I’ll get to do this again, so let’s all go fucking wild.”
If there is anything to take away from seeing BANNERS in a live setting, it is how undeniably sincere and grateful he is for the abundance of kindness and praise he has been shown so far throughout his career.
It is no secret that most of his songs touch on motivational topics inspiring people to not give up, remember that they are not alone, and to encourage them to just be their most authentic selves. At the end of the night, everyone was able to walk away from his performance feeling a little lighter, a little more optimistic, and a whole lot of love for the music that has been a shoulder to lean on during whatever innermost conflicts they may have been facing in their personal lives. Although he may not fully know the extent to which his music has impacted the lives of his listeners, anyone who has had even the briefest encounter with his songs understands the significance it holds in ways that words simply cannot begin to articulate out loud.
Check out the full gallery of BANNERS below!
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