Review and photos by Liza Wilson
Livingston put on one of the most captivating performances of the year at his recent show in Cincinnati.
Long, tall, Texan
The singer-songwriter from Texas drew in a diverse crowd from kids, to teens, to even parents who seemed to enjoy the music just as much as their children. It was clear that his music resonated well with his audience. One fan in the crowd even recited the monologue from the song “Introduction,” the first track on Livingston’s latest release A Hometown Odyssey, with a big smile on her face. Throughout his performance, Livingston did not shy away from interacting with fans. The crowd screamed his lyrics back to him, jumping up and down with excitement after each interaction they shared.
Livingston getting the crowd moving live in Cincinnati (photo: Liza Wilson)
One thing that really resonated about Livingston’s performance was the amount of energy he had. He felt the emotion of the songs just as much as the audience that was singing along with him. It was not surprising to see this connection, given the artist’s background. Diagnosed with autism at the age of 10, Livingston discovered music around the age of 12 and quickly discovered it was an excellent way to convey his emotions.
Home on the range
Each of his tracks features a multitude of instruments, and at some points Livingston would even rock out a synth right on the keyboard center at stage a la Brandon Flowers. Though this was my first exposure to his music, he was extremely memorable, even recently I have caught myself humming a song of his.
Livingston keeps the crowd engaged in Cincinnati (photo: Liza Wilson)
The stage design caught my attention right away. There were several different LED lights placed around the back, pulsing with the song and changing colors. It felt like each song got its own unique “set” with how the LEDs interacted with the theming and beat of each song.
Another star is born
Another great part of Livingston’s tour is the opener, fellow solo artist Camylio. Camylio had one of the bubbliest personalities of an artist I’ve seen on stage in ages, which was quickly contrasted by his beautiful heartbreaking songs. He had an impressive amount of energy on stage, and engaged the audience by inviting them to sing along to his song “Angel.” Another crowd pleaser was Camylio’s heartfelt version of Adele’s “Somebody Like You,” which he magnificently covered about half way through his set.
This iconic duo put together for a wonderful on a late fall evening in the Queen City.
PF Wilson has been writing about music, TV, radio, and movies for over 20 years. He has also written about sports, business, and politics with his work appearing in Cincinnati CityBeat, The Houston Press, Cleveland Scene, Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, Atomic Ranch, and many more. Check out his podcast PF’s Tape Recorder available from Podbean or in iTunes.