by Hannah Pena
A cool fall day brought fans of all ages to the Cola-Cola Roxy to see Stephen Sanchez live. They dressed in 50s-60s fashion to channel Stephen’s music. A beautiful venue with chandeliers and a balcony, it was the perfect venue. The deluxe version of Angel Face was released earlier this year, Angel Face (Club Deluxe). Stephen's “TV show” was hosted by Connie Co. and the night entailed a mid-show Q&A, unforgettable guitar solos, and Stephen going into the crowd for one of his cover songs.
Connie Co. introduced the opening act, an Australian band, The Paper Kites. They showcased their talents with their beautiful voices and banjo playing. They played songs from their indie rock/fold rock albums At the Roadhouse, On the Train Ride Home, and a track from States. A spotlight shined on the lead singer, as they opened up with “Between The Houses.” Bright red lighting took over for “Hurts So Good,” and David (guitar/banjo) showed off his banjo skills. Going from soft and slow songs, they did an energetic track, “June’s Stolen Car.” They ended the set with their most popular track, “Bloom.”
Half an hour later, Connie Co. came on stage again to introduce Stephen Sanchez. After a few kind words, the lights dimmed and the chords to “Evangeline,” began. The stage layout consisted of two sets of stairs, with a half circle on top, and “The Connie Co. Show” written in the center. It was cut out in the middle and spun around to reveal Stephen. Sporting a white suit with a black bow, his angelic voice echoed throughout the venue. Fans screamed as he came down from the stairs, to sing “Only Girl.”
The first song from the deluxe album, “Emotional Vacation,” Stephen shredded his
guitar for the electrifying chorus. More of his 60s-inspired tracks were played, such as “Doesn’t Do Me Any Good,” “Be More,” and his song with Laufey “No One Knows.” One of his two cover songs of the night was “Put Your Head On My Shoulders.” He surprised the crowd by going onto the floor to say hello. During this moment, you could feel the love between Stephen and his fans. The California-born artist continued the set with an “Oh, Pretty Woman” cover, “Hey Girl,” and “Fame Or Fortune.” Before going to the next song, there was an intermission, and the host, Connie Co., came out to ask Stephen some fan questions. He sang a Frank Sinatra cover and told the crowd about a shaving incident he had, that led him to cut his nose. The Q&A ended with a rapid-fire this or that.
Stephen then surprised the crowd with an acoustic version of his unreleased song, “It’s Not Over.” Fans admired the new song and cheered him on. From acoustic to electric, he played “Howling At The Wolves,” and fans from the floor to the balcony were dancing with him. Coming off of that high, Stephen sang his most popular song to date, “Until I Found You,” and the crowd sang every word, with some couples slow dancing at the back of the venue. The night ended with “Shake,” a less than 2-minute song, but with so much energy, you get your workout in. Stephen Sanchez’s show was unlike any other. Turning the Coca-Cola Roxy into a 60s television show, showed how important this era of music is to him, and how he wants to share it with the world.
All images of Stephen Sanchez & The Paper Kites by Hannah Pena.
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