jaymes young returns to the sinclair with a soul-stirring performance
Words and photos by Jacklyn Lipscomb
Vulnerability is often the key to connecting with people on an emotionally raw level, and in Jaymes Young’s case, it is exactly what makes him and his live show a force to be reckoned with. This couldn’t have been more evident than at his recent stop at The Sinclair in Cambridge, where he wore his heart on his sleeve for an eager crowd nearing the end of his highly anticipated Happiest Year tour. The 28-year-old Seattle-born singer-songwriter is most recognized for his creative blend of acoustic coffeehouse indie rock with subtle electronica synth-pop undertones. The dynamic clarity of his vocals, accentuated by the alluring depth of his lyrics that focus on internalized fear, doubt, and insecurity was enough to leave the entire audience in chills and wowed even the toughest of critics.
It had been over two years since Young’s last North American tour, followed by the announcement that he was taking a possibly permanent break from Jaymes Young as a project. Needless to say, his return made his time behind the microphone all the more valued by fans whom he warmly welcomed as his “lovely beautiful friends” seconds after he hit the stage. Shortly after, he kicked off his set with “Moondust,” a rhythmic track with just enough magnitude to draw the audience in from the very first chord. Standing onstage with nothing but his electric guitar, a loop pedal at his feet, and his friend Till Richter covering drums and piano to his side, a surrounding collection of synchronized lights and heavy fog helped bring his signature sound to life.
He kept the tempo going by seamlessly flowing through peppier tracks like “Sugar Burn,” “We Won’t,” and “Infinity” that had everyone swaying to the beat. Aware of the fact that not all of those who were standing in the crowd may be familiar with his music, Young made sure to include something for everyone to recognize and enjoy. He accomplished this by playing a rather dramatic rendition of Haddaway’s hit “What Is Love”, earning a few wolf whistles from the back of the bar as only the hushed plucking of guitar strings, emerging bass, and his mesmerizing voice commanded the room. Also thrown into the mix was an arguably edgier tune called “Habits Of My Heart,” during which he was able to highlight his capabilities as a musician by flawlessly gliding through subdued guitar licks and even participating in a lengthy solo. Due to the serious range of his discography, these sparingly danceable moments were carefully crafted to be threaded amongst the melancholy, resulting in a setlist that many referred to as an emotional rollercoaster.
One factor that immediately made seeing Young in a live setting stand out from listening to his studio recordings was how laid back and stripped down every song seemed to be. Much of his music includes slightly warped backing vocals for emphasis, which was intentionally absent from his live set, especially during the title track of his 2017 debut album Feel Something. Young substituted the missing melodies with his own voice instead, showcasing the effortless beauty of his vocals and the underlying meaning of the song in a whole new light.
Clad in a simple black t-shirt and jeans, an attribute that was made very apparent early on in the evening was how Jaymes wasn’t trying to be someone that he isn’t. Previously letting his music do most of the talking and only uttering a few hushed thank yous between songs, he finally took a moment to address the crowd in the middle of his set while tuning his guitar. He poked fun at the audience by engaging with a few individuals’ comments and love proclamations, earning a chorus of laughs from the strikingly diverse crowd. He also admitted that he stayed awake longer than he probably should have the previous night and lightly touched upon the fact he hadn’t been out on the road in a while.
Beneath his soft-spoken demeanor, those who are familiar with his music would know that he doesn’t stray away from tackling darker subject matters, as many of his lyrics deal with topics of love, loss, and coping with the hardships of life. He’s no stranger to voicing his struggles and it almost makes his presence even more distinctive, knowing that these songs come from a place of personal introspection and longing that is purely human. “This next song is a song I wrote about a lot of the stupid shit I’ve done in the past and how we’ve all been there,” Young announced before diving into his most famous hit, “I’ll Be Good.” His words resonate with people in ways that are difficult to articulate out loud, which was made clear by men and women alike already clutching their hearts and holding back tears at the opening line of the song that reads: “I thought I saw the devil this morning looking in the mirror/ drop of rum on my tongue.” Other hard-hitting piano ballads like “Stone” and” Happiest Year” were so enthralling they rendered the entire room speechless, the space silent enough to allow every breath between Young’s velvety falsetto notes to echo throughout the intimate venue.
Up until the very last moments of the show, Young expressed his unwavering gratitude for those who continue to support his career. The smile displayed across his face after being called back to the stage by the audience for an encore spoke for itself. He chose to end the night with a special acoustic version of one of his oldest tracks “Two More Minutes,” with only his guitar for backing support. Overall, his ability to successfully capture the hearts of everyone in the crowd in such a personable manner is a true testament to his talent as a songwriter and his unapologetically authentic personality. Every aspect of his presentation was fueled by a genuine sense of honesty and truth, leaving those who attended feeling comfortably understood and a little less alone in whatever innermost conflict they may have been facing.