Sawyer Fredericks showcased new album “The Good Storm” as well as some of his older material and cover songs at The Highline Ballroom on Thursday night.
Accompanied by brother Arthur (Art) Fredericks on bass, Chris Morrison on guitar and Bob Henderson on drums, Fredericks played to a middle-aged crowd with a sprinkle of post-teen presence.
Winner of NBC’s eighth season of The Voice at 16-years-old, the now 17-year-old made The Voice history by landing fourteen songs in the iTunes Overall Top 200 Songs Chart in one week.
That’s not all. He is the show’s youngest winner and coach, Pharrell Williams’, first winner. Currently out on his “A Good Storm Tour,” 2015 alum took the stage around 8:50 p.m. after opening act and fellow The Voice contestant Mia Z.
Dressed in light wash gray jeans, a red and white flannel and black brimmed hat, he took the stage with his acoustic guitar, softly smiling and blushing as a fan screams from the darkness: “I love you Sawyer.”
He performed an hour-long set and before his last song joked with the audience: “I’ve got one more song for you guys. You can leave after this song.”
He finished strong with his “Not Coming Home” and then quickly returned for an encore.
His gentle stage presence and genuine character was transparent as he thanked the crowd after every song and applause. The audience had a clear appreciation and respect for this young person and old soul as they cheered him on and sympathized with his raw emotion.
Looking into the distance, Fredericks gives the impression that he’s a little repellent to gravity in the sense that he loses himself in his own melody and story. At the end of the day, Fredericks is gives us the feeling that he is just a boy with his guitar.
He’d comment before a song with a: “I wrote this song when I was twelve.”
The Upstate New York farm native’s wavy long blonde hair, sweet smile and take on contemporary folk sound definitely doesn’t go unnoticed. It’s safe to say that it’s definitely going to be interesting to watch this budding star’s rise to fame.
-Alexandra Strausman
