On October 13th, Sarah Kinsley and opener Ha Vay blessed the Royale in Boston. Sarah Kinsley delivered an unforgettable performance and enchanted the crowd with her gorgeous, smooth vocals. Her melodic style is a perfect blend of richness and comfort, making every song feel like it’s just for you. She was constantly in motion, engaging and creating a personal experience which grasped the audience’s attention.
While her set was mostly calm and wistful, louder tracks brought energy and variety into the evening offering a nice contrast. She didn’t hesitate to give the audience moments to dance between the sadder tracks.
“We don’t play this song a lot on tour. We save it for special crowds,” she said as she introduced the vulnerable track “Barrel of Love.” As if that didn’t receive enough cheers, she followed the song with a cover of The Cranberries’ hit song “Dreams.” The cover was perfectly suited to her voice – her melancholy tone easily fit into Dolores O’Riordan’s lyrical mastery.
The lighting was visually striking, adding an ethereal touch to the performance. Opting for a spot light rather than colored lights, it shifted the focus to Kinsley and drew the crowd further into the sound bath taking place.
Of course, Ha Vay deserves a mention too. Throughout her set, the snare drum fell off and the mic had continuous issues. Despite it all, she maintained her composure and stunned the crowd. Her presence was angelic. New unreleased songs such as “Blush” had a folky touch that was endlessly fascinating and were well received. For an opener, a lot of cheers and energy were brought in.
Vulnerability is a perfect way to describe the night. Ha Vay and Kinsley created a cathartic environment leaving everyone yearning for more.
