Julia Michaels
with Rhys Lewis @ First Avenue
Minneapolis, MN // 11.6.2019
photos + review by Morgan Winston
Julia Michaels enchants the First Avenue crowd with her honest lyrics and gorgeous melodies.
English singer/songwriter Rhys Lewis took to the stage first. The simplistic nature of his stage setup, which consisted of only his guitar, amp and a keyboard, allowed for a real connection between Lewis and the crowd. His vocals were able to shine through without the presence of heavy or overpowering instrumentals.
Toward the end of his set, Lewis had captured the crowd’s full attention. He dug into each note with so much emotion and grit, and expressed his gratitude for all of those who had attended early to see him perform. There is no doubt that he will be back touring the US soon on his own headlining tour.
The energy in the room quickly shifted after Rhys Lewis’s set. Julia Michael’s crew placed on a sign on stage that encouraged singing, dancing, and laughing without judgement. Adorned with giant flowers and a colorful backdrop, Michaels’s stage took on the appearance of her whimsical album design for 2017’s Nervous System.
As soon as Michaels appeared her adoring fans began to sing along with her opening song “Pink.” The singer bounded back and forth across the stage during nearly every song, playing off of her band’s energy as well as the crowd’s. One highlight included her opening up about her fears in releasing her own material in 2017, and credited her fans support in helping her to do it.
Julia Michaels and Rhys Lewis continue their North American tour through next week before finishing up on the 16th in Vancouver.
