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SHOW REVIEW: An Evening With Speak Low If You Speak Love

Samantha Aneed

Hometown Shows are the best shows. We were thankful enough to be able to attend “An Evening With Speak Low If You Speak Love” with special guests Leo Bautista of Rival Summers, Northerner, The Beautiful Gorgeous and Signature Mistakes. Speak Low, for short, sold out a hometown show in downtown Pontiac, Michigan at the Pike Room.  

To start the show, a surprise performance from Leo Bautista of Rival Summers left us speechless. With just his voice and an acoustic guitar, he blessed us with his amazing vocal skills and lovely songs. His talent left the room in awe, and being in such a small venue, the acoustics sounded beautiful.  Leo did not disappoint. After his 4 song set, the quiet chatter took over while they set up for the next act, an act that differs a lot from Leo.

Leo
Leo of Rival Summers

Northerner is an instrumental band with a very chill vibe. Consisting of 4 guys from a small town in Michigan, they came out and shocked us with their wide range of instrumental talent. Their set was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. It was almost unexpected. There were songs on their setlist that made you want to dance like you’re swaying in the wind. The band did not speak much throughout their set, giving off a mysterious feel. We’ve never come across a local band like Northerner, and we were so lucky to be able to chat with them before the show. You’ll be able to read that interview soon.

Northerner
Northerner

The anticipation in the room was filling. Two openers down, and two more to go. That brings us to The Beautiful Gorgeous, a very fitting name for a truly spectacular band. TBG for short includes Brooklynn as their lead singer, who, mind you, is only 17 years old.  Her voice is one of the most beautiful voices we have ever heard. Not only do we get vocals from Brooklynn, but vocals also come from bandmates Sal and Noah, who both have sweet angelic voices, just like Brooklynn. You can see and hear the emotion and passion on their faces while they perform. Their voices fill with emotion, they’re screaming to get their voices heard.  We got a stellar vibe from the band reminding us of The 1975 but in their own unique way. If you’re into Lorde or The 1975, there is no doubt in our minds that you’ll enjoy The Beautiful Gorgeous. They’re just a group of friends, making music and doing exactly what they love.

IMG_0905
The Beautiful Gorgeous

The night was beginning to come to a close, and the room was filling with excitement as the final acts began to perform. Signature Mistakes, a small band from Westland, MI, took the stage and opened our ears with meaningful lyrics and songs that tell a story. Their music isn’t written to sell records or make money, and you can tell that by the way they are written. Lyrics from the heart and real experiences show a deeper side to the band. The songs let listeners know they aren’t alone. By the look on the lead singer Tyler Common’s face, it’s obvious how much emotion and passion he has for not only songwriting, but also performing.  The effort truly shows when you see the band perform live, even if in front of a room full of friends, family and fans.

Our night concluded with Speak Low If You Speak Love, or Speak Low for short. If you have never listened to their music, we highly recommend it. Lead singer Ryan Scott Graham blessed our ears with his angelic voice, and touched our hearts with meaningful, beautiful, truthful lyrics that tell a story in a heart-wrenching way. Songs like “Eight Weeks” prove that songwriting isn’t about trying to sell the song, but rather connecting with your audience. Speak Low did just that in front of the sold-out crowd in the Pike Room. Watching Ryan share with the audience these songs he wrote based on experiences was incredible. We saw emotion pour out while he was performing, and it was beautiful. Seeing an artist fall deeper and deeper into the music while performing is something everyone deserves to see; we were lucky enough to witness it that night at the Pike Room.

Samantha Aneed
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Samantha Aneed

Sam Aneed is a contributing writer for Beyond the Stage Magazine. She has been with the team since 2016. She is currently in school studying business and hospitality. She is working as an associate at a hotel in Michigan. She loves her job and loves writing for BTS. In her free time you’ll find her at concerts, exploring dive bars and baking. Sam also is an avid social media correspondent and you’ll often find her on Twitter following all the latest trends in music. Some of her favorite artists and bands include, Bryce Vine, Harry Styles, Jake Miller, LANY and lovelytheband.