Soulful folk artist John Vincent III is in the midst of his first European and North American headline tour, The Road Trip. From Houston, John Vincent III's music started gaining a following when he released his self-produced and written album, Songs from the Valley, in 2019. Listeners can expect a rich blend similar to artists like Bon Iver and Caamp when playing his music.
John Vincent III's name got a huge stage to stand on when it was announced in March that he'd be one of the openers for a leg of Noah Kahan's renowned We'll All Be Here Forever world tour. I was lucky enough to be at night two of this tour in St. Paul, MN, and had the opportunity to watch John Vincent III's opening performance. It was a captivating show and brought him some well-deserved success in his career.
Before John Vincent III took the stage, Australian singer and bassist Hazlett set the vibe for the night with a laid-back yet alluring performance. Hazlett was very engaging with the audience in the intimate Amsterdam Bar & Hall venue in downtown St. Paul, creating a warm and comfortable atmosphere. He told the story of how he went from being a bassist in a band, to being the singer of his own. He played some covers and of course, played some of his most well-known songs like "Please Don't Be" and "Blame The Moon".
One of the perks of a small venue is how personal and relaxed it feels. The acoustic, folky tunes that were played only added to this effect. I got the feeling that everyone in the audience truly felt and connected with the songs that John Vincent III was playing, giving the show such an intimate feel.
For the majority of the concert, the audience was quiet in a way that allowed them to be fully consumed by the music. I looked around and saw everyone singing along but to themselves. It was obvious that his songs touched people on a very personal level. These intimate shows are a beautiful way for artists to connect with their listeners as they can see almost everyone's faces looking back at them. This wasn't as true for the top hits he played such as "In My Sheets" and "Next to You" as there wasn't a soul in the packed venue that wasn't singing along. John Vincent III is a growing artist and anyone who finds themselves being pulled toward American pop/folky guitar music should give him a listen.
