Concert Review: Mistletoe Variety Show

Hey everyone! In mid-December, I had the privilege of being front and center for an annual Christmas variety show. This year the lineup was incredible, featuring a local opener, Oh Honey, Mat Kearny, and The Script. I've been waiting for six years to see The Script live, so needless to say, I was already excited, but the show really went above and beyond my expectations. Here's a breakdown of each portion of the show:

Amanda Lee Peers

Amanda Lee Peers is a hometown hero of sorts in Rochester. She's a local woman who competed on NBC's The Voice as a part of Gwen Stefani's team. She's been around playing locally, and I was really impressed with her voice. She had great stage presence, and was enjoyable to watch. 

Oh Honey

I was very torn about how I felt about Oh Honey's performance. I only knew one song that they performed, and their stage presence was everywhere. On one hand, one guitarist and the female vocalist were jumping around and hyped up. But on the other side of the stage, the male vocalist and bass player were very mellow. It wasn't cohesive at all and they didn't seem to have chemistry up there. They sounded good though! 

Mat Kearny

Going into the show, I knew that I knew a song by Mat Kearny but I couldn't place it until he played it (FYI: it was Nothing Left to Lose). But aside from that song, I really fell in love with his newer songs. My favorites were "Just Kids," "Heartbeat," and "Ships in the Night." He reminded me a lot of Matt Nathanson in concert: yes, he was amazing at singing, but he also kept the audience entertained with anecdotes and humor. 

The Script

I won't lie, I'm probably a little biased when it comes to evaluating The Script's performance. I thought they were amazing, to put it in one word. I will say one thing though: one thing to know if you catch them live- Danny (the lead singer) hates cell phones. He asked the crowd multiple times to put them away and just be in the moment. It surprised me, but it was a pleasant surprise. I always say, taking a few pictures is fine, but past that, PUT THE PHONE AWAY. You miss so much when you're watching the concert through a screen. If you wanted to watch them through a screen you can do that at home. These guys give 110% at their shows. Give them something back! 

Have you caught any great shows lately? Who was it and what was your favorite part?