Citizen Cope was making his rounds this past week in New York. With six sold out shows, the man was set to take it over. Eager fans were lining up and although there was some slight confusion before the doors at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, by the time Citizen Cope hit the stage there was no confusing who the audience came to see and what they wanted to sing.
I’ve been to several shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg and its older brother (or sister) the Bowery Ballroom and this had to be one of the liveliest crowds I’ve seen. Not in the rowdy sense of pushing and pent up energy, of crowding and sporadic dancing/jumping. This was the type of energy where you heard the audience singing as much as who was on stage. Every song received a cheer and each song was sung right back. It seemed like each song was a hit or had a long established history with the listener. It made for a good night of music.
Citizen Cope, aka Clarence Greenwood, starts off the set simply enough with a lone guitar. He’s soon joined by all the fans in attendance as “Salvation” starts the night. It’s a slow tune, telling a story and the narrative flow eases you into his voice and acoustic guitar. “D’Artagnan’s Theme” followed up and this seemed to be an early favorite for most people. The chorus hit and the crowd hung on to each word and singing as loud as they could.
Cope started the evening out on an acoustic note. It was intimate and inviting and developed an instant rapport with the crowd. “Healing Hands” and “Lifeline” were two songs during this acoustic first set and were off his latest release The Rainwater LP. The latter song was a down tempo track, about right choices and the right mentality that ended the acoustic first half of the set. As his band joined him on stage the night picked up.
“Bullet and a Target” started off the electric part of the set and was the clear favorite amongst fans. As soon as it started, the full band backing him, the song was given that extra dynamic needed to flesh out the song. As good as the acoustic set was, I wanted something more from the opening. It could just be my usual routine of concerts or not being familiar with how Citizen Cope works a set, but that’s a minor criticism and the blame probably lays with me. Once the band was introduced though, I had no issues and there was still another surprise in store for the audience.
“Hurricane Waters” bounced off of “Bullet and a Target” and furthered developed the sound of Cope that drew so many fans to him. There’s a busy beat floating around in the background that plays well with Cope’s deliberate pacing and the chorus slides in perfectly. This coasting crescendo of emotion was pulled off effortlessly by Cope and was interesting to watch unfold. “Penitentiary” showed off his R&B influences and came off silky smooth.
“Son’s Gonna Rise” drew forth more fan adulation and was another raucous sing-along. “Every Waking Moment” was another highlight. As the set was winding down the biggest surprise, and highlight to me, was “Karma Police”. Was I expecting to hear a Radiohead song? Nope, but I loved it and I think that’s a good way to end this review.
Citizen Cope delivered to a sold out Music Hall of Williamsburg and it’s obvious why he’s a touring staple. Cope pulls in the audience, delivers a passionate performance that can resonate anywhere. It’s a great trick that’s seen in only the biggest acts. The lyrics written by Cope but sung by the fans is testament to that.
Sandrine opened the night and their simple arrangements and fun pop played well to the audience eager to see Citizen Cope. The chemistry shared between the duo was fun to see unfold on stage. As tempos changed or the focus of the song shifted, their eyes were on each other. It was interesting to watch the interplay.
There were several great tracks from the set including “Where Do We Go“. It was easy to get into and the songs developed nicely. Sandrine had a nice range and had plenty of variety to make the set succeed. She showcased her personality extremely well, gaining the attention of the audience.
More pictures of Sandrine and Citizen Cope are below.
Citizen Cope
Sandrine
