Laufey made her much-awaited return to Michigan, playing Detroit proper for the first time at a sold-out Majestic Theater on October 25th. (She played Ferndale last year.) Before the doors even opened, I got in the longest line I’ve encountered so far at this venue, with the queue wrapping a solid two blocks away from the entrance. The Lauvers – that’s Laufey’s fandom – showed up early and in force. Laufey’s jazzy style certainly Bewitched the crowd, just like the title of her recently released new album. Here are five moments that stood out from the set:
Adam Melchor Holds Court
Singer-songwriter Adam Melchor took the stage first, seizing the attention of the well-packed room from the start with a charming cover of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” Equipped just with an acoustic guitar and his voice, Melchor won over the crowd by hitting soaring sustained notes on standout tracks like “Serotonin” and “Real Estate,” while also delivering some folksy whistling on “Joyride.”
Laufey’s Vocal Chops…
Laufey’s voice fused together an enthralling mix of jazz, chamber pop, and bossa nova, ranging from the rich and sonorous “Dreamer” to the delicate ending of “Let You Break My Heart Again.” And her powerful signing helped carry the ending of “California and Me.”
…And Multifaceted Instrumentation
Laufey also impressed by showcasing her command over three different instruments, switching among guitar, piano, and cello. (She even switched to cello mid-song on “Beautiful Stranger,” which prominently featured her pensive strings.) Her work on piano was also especially memorable, from the lush – and purely instrumental – “Nocturne (Interlude)” to the rich, layered sounds of “California and Me” to the gentle keys of “Promise.”
Lauvers Unite
Throughout the set, the audience stood at rapt attention, often joining Laufey in hushed singalongs on tracks like “Dreamer,” “Beautiful Stranger,” and “Promise.” But every now and then, a joyous burst of energy erupted, like the shouted line of “blah, blah, blah” on “From the Start.” And on “Bewitched,” the fans, unprompted, took out their cell phone lights en masse, swaying in unison to Laufey’s croon. “Not a single crowd has done that on this tour,” Laufey said (of the spontaneous light show) with a grin.
Finishing Strong
The end of the main set brought some of the most energetic songs of the evening. “Lovesick” featured Laufey’s sturdy strums of the guitar and rich vocals, backed by an anthemic drum beat. Afterward, Laufey explained to the crowd some of her Motor City bona fides: “Here’s some Laufey lore. I have roots in Detroit. My great great grandfather and great grandfather actually lived in Detroit – they moved here from China. I can feel there’s a part of my history here – that’s so special.” Laufey wrapped things up on a high note with “From the Start,” with the crowd roaring along and waving heart-shaped cutouts to the bossa nova groove.
A raucous call of “Encore! Encore!” erupted nearly immediately after, with cheers reaching a fever pitch when Laufey reemerged. The singer returned to the stage solo, dedicating “Letter to My 13 Year Old Self” to a few of the audience members celebrating their 13th birthdays in the crowd, showcasing her poignant, gentle croon.
To cap off the evening, Laufey delivered a surprise song. She opted for “Moon River,” as performed by Audrey Hepburn for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. “The song I sing tonight, no other city’s getting,” she explained to the engrossed audience – quite the Hollywood ending.
