Concert Review: Ray LaMontagne 5.1.14 Town Hall NYC

Words by Audra Tracy | Photos by Amanda Stevens

It was a night most young women can only fantasize about. A dream date with the strong, silent type. An evening with the kind of modern-day Bohemian dude that wears a feather in his hat, and his heart on the sleeve of a shirt that’s unbuttoned just a few notches. He stands before you, softly serenading with words like “I will bring you starlight by the barrow/I will bring you roses by the score.”

So what if a couple hundred other people were there too? As far as most of the ladies at Town Hall were concerned, this was as intimate as they would ever get with Ray LaMontagne without a) being very lucky, or, b) breaking the law.

The singer/songwriter just released his new album, Supernova, this week via RCA Records, and Citi Cardmembers were treated to a special performance on May 1st. Produced by Dan Auerbach, the record is a collection of tracks that maintain LaMontagne’s signature smooth vocals, while adding the edge you would expect from anything associated with The Black Keys.

LaMontagne and his four-piece backing band took to the dimly lit stage just after 9PM, starting with a soft acoustic number before introducing New Yorkers to the first track off Supernova, entitled ‘Lavender’. Next came ‘She’s The One’, another new track featuring a rock n roll vibe that seemed to channel the rough and tumble swagger of The Black Crowes.

At this point, the man of the hour had yet to address his adoring fans. And you know what happens when a group of girls get the cold shoulder from a dude. “Say something to us!”, a female fan pleaded from the seated crowd in between tunes. “Hey guys”, LaMontagne replied as the audience laughter subsided. “Very nice to be here.”

Not much for small talk, he skipped any further stage banter and dove into an old favorite, ‘For The Summer’ from his 2010 album, God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise. A few more songs from Supernova rounded out the set, including ‘Airwaves’ and ‘Ojai’, and then a stirring encore of ‘Drive-In Movies’.

Yes, it was a night to remember that left scores of ladies wondering, will he call?