Review: Ray LaMontagne at the Santa Barbara Bowl

Singer Captivates Listeners at the on Saturday, October 18

Ray LaMontagne returned to the Bowl last Saturday night and left the near-capacity audience high with delight. On tour for his latest album, Supernova, LaMontagne kept the sound levels up and folks on their feet as he rolled through his 17-song set, nine of which where cuts from the new CD.

Supernova is more up-tempo than LaMontagne’s previously releases, and the show reflected that rock-and-roll energy. The singer and his band opened with “Lavender,” a luscious song awash in a psychedelic patina, one of the first singles from “Supernova.” The growly “She’s the One” was next, followed right on its heels by “For the Summer,” a favorite from 2010’s God Willin’ & the Creek Don’t Rise.

A pace change came two-thirds into the evening when LaMontagne performed a three-song acoustic line-up of “Burn,” “Trouble,” and “Jolene,” accompanied only by his stand-up bass player. Despite his quiet demeanor, LaMontagne commands the stage with his musicianship. Throwing sonic energy into the crowd like a bright star, he effortlessly took his vocals from whispers to near screams with a passion worn on his sleeve.

With a kaleidoscope of colors swirling behind him, LaMontagne hooked the audience with his range of musical hues and lit up the night like a supernova.