Lake Street Dive at Madison Square Garden
Twenty years after their founding, Lake Street Dive geared up for their show at one of the most iconic venues of all time, Madison Square Garden. The funk-jazz-rock band includes Rachael Price (vocals), James Cornelison (guitar and backing vocals), Akie Bermiss (keys and vocals), Negah Santos (percussion), Bridget Kearney (bass and backing vocals), and Mike Calabrese (drums and backing vocals). Included in the set for the night was the horn section, which is composed of Jon Lampley (trumpet), Dan White (sax), and Chris Ott (trombone).
The stage at Madison Square Garden was decorated with a full mid century modern set, which made the space feel more intimate, as if they were performing at a small club. Lake Street Dive made their entrance onto the stage through a lighted archway that led directly into the spotlight.
“Madison Square Garden, how we doing? Let’s do it!” Price spoke with fierce and energetic diction into the microphone. The audience then cheered as the first upbeat notes of “Good Together” began.
After just a few songs, Price paused and said, “You’re not going to believe it. You’re going to go home and talk about it. And that's going to be this moment right now where you’re all going to wait because I'm having a wardrobe malfunction in my top. And I'm going to put on a different outfit, ok? You’re going to listen to the band play. It's going to take a few minutes. Is everyone ok with that?” She quickly exits the stage as the rest of the band picks up into a simple rhythmic jazz melody.
“There wasn’t unexpected wardrobe changes in the set list” Kearney humorously says on stage while keeping up the rhythm. “But it gives us all the opportunity to say what we're grateful for in this moment, James?”
“Oh my god, I’m grateful for y’all showing up, this is unbelievable,” Cornelison answers into the microphone as the assignment gets passed to each band member.
“You know, I’m grateful we’re in the city of New York tonight,” says Bermiss.
“I'm grateful for the incredible amount of friends and family who have joined us tonight, who have come from far and wide, to support us,” answered Calabrese.
“I’m grateful for all the love of you guys,” Santos responded.
“I’m grateful for my bandmates on this stage and everyone in the house and outside of the house that helped us get here to this moment on this stage. That means our incredible crew, our management, our booking agents, our families, our friends, and all of you guys,” Kearney said. The short conversation felt like watching a group of friends having a relaxed talk, even though this conversation took place on the stage at Madison Square Garden.
Price returned to the stage and the band steadily made their way through their extensive discography. Some songs played included, “Far Gone,” “Better Not Tell You,” and “Get Around.” Since their formation in 2004, Lake Street Dive has perfected their juxtaposition of all the instruments and sounds, a steady balance between rhythm changes, and a moment never seems to get lost in translation between the band and the crowd. The horn section was brought out on stage every few songs and were expertly crafted in the set list as to when and where they would be featured. Their group continuously brought the energy up every time they stepped on stage. This was immensely evident as Lake Street Dive began “Party On The Roof,” where the disco ball at Madison Square Garden began spinning.
“Somebody asked us earlier today if it feels different to play Madison Square Garden versus any other show,” Price spoke out directly to the crowd. “The simple answer is, most definitely. I’ve felt really overwhelmed leading up to this show. But as I'm standing here on stage and as I’ve been singing, I realized I have felt this way before, which, you know, is kind of a cool feeling. I felt this way when we performed the song “You Go Down Smooth” 15 years ago. I felt this way when we played a gig for like 30 people as the featured band of a bluegrass night and Mike forgot his drums and he just played a cardboard box and shook a box of Nerds. And we ate that crowd. I felt that way the first time I heard the demo Bridget made of “Good Kisser.” And so, yeah, that feeling is that I love this band so much and we're so happy to be doing this, and we're so happy that you're here with us. Thank you so much.”
The band took a moment to change their configuration on stage as they all sat together at the front of the stage. The calm energy of the group was reflected by the crowd. Everyone sitting crowded around a tall bar and a few chairs felt like watching a band at a jazz club, like a personal experience. The three-song mini stripped down set included “Side Pony,” “Help Is On The Way,” and their cover of “I Want You Back.”
“Anyone ever been to a Waffle House before?” Price asked the crowd as audible laughs could be heard in response from the audience. “I’m from the south, I’m from Tennessee. And the town that I grew up in, the Waffle House was the cool place to hang out. So obviously I was there a lot. I’m very cool. A lot of the scenes of the first romance I ever had played out at a Waffle House. I would go there late at night and get decaf coffee, and I would write in my journal and wait for him to come in and see me, cause I was like really emo. And it worked. It was a complete thirst trap. And that happened, it came and it went, and for a while I would see a Waffle House off an exit somewhere, and I would get a little twinge of sourness about the whole thing. Now I don’t feel that way anymore. Now it's all sweet memories. So that’s a little bit about what this song is about. It’s called ‘Twenty-Five.’” Price sat on the same bar placed in the middle of the stage and sang with soulful emotion throughout the song.
Closing out the night, Lake Street Dive brought the energy up to its highest, urging people to stand up in the audience and find a dancing partner, as they began playing “Dance With A Stranger.” With just a moment of pause as the disco ball kept spinning, lighting the stands of the arena, Lake Street Dive finished with “You Go Down Smooth,” as the crowd sang the lyrics back.
Each band member on stage gave a wave to the crowd as the group quickly walked off the iconic stage as the lights went dark. Within an instant, the echoes of the crowd cheering reverberated even more intensely as Lake Street Dive came back onto the stage to play one final song.
Price began the opening lyrics to “Good Kisser,” as excited cheers rose from the crowd. And just as the song finished, the full band came to the front of the stage. Each member looked out, it was evident they were taking in the moment. The group took one collective bow together, before exiting the stage for the final time of the night at Madison Square Garden.
(Photo credit: Shervin Lainez)
