Family, Stories, and Song: Lawrence's New Year's Eve at City Winery NYC

This show was shot for The Concert Chronicles. Original article here.

For a band known for their high-energy shows with an eight-piece lineup, Lawrence demonstrated the versatility of their songwriting with two stripped-down New Year's Eve performances at City Winery NYC. Featuring just siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, the evening offered an intimate look into their creative process and family dynamics that perfectly embodied their album "Family Business."

Songs and Stories

The duo performed their "Family Business" album in its entirety, but the stripped-down format allowed for something special between each song - stories about their creation. Before performing "23," they treated the audience to different versions of the song they had considered, providing a rare glimpse into their songwriting process. These moments of musical show-and-tell transformed the evening from a simple concert into a storytelling session with music.

Keeping it in the Family

True to the spirit of "Family Business," the evening featured several family collaborations. Brother Linus Lawrence joined the siblings for multiple songs, and in a heartwarming moment, their father took the stage with his harmonica, adding another layer to the family affair. The appearance of frequent collaborator Nathan Farrell, known to fans from the band's "Acoustic-ish" video series, for a rendition of "Circle Back" further enhanced the intimate, familiar atmosphere.

The night's unexpected highlight came with a surprise performance of "Defying Gravity" from the musical "Wicked." Clyde's humorous take on Glinda paired with Gracie's powerful delivery as Elphaba showcased not just their musical talents but their ability to entertain in any context.

Versatility on Display

While Lawrence has proven they can command arena-sized crowds with their full band, this New Year's Eve performance at City Winery demonstrated something equally impressive - their ability to captivate an intimate room with nothing more than two voices, a piano, and honest storytelling. Whether playing to thousands or dozens, their infectious energy and musical chemistry remain unchanged.

The evening served as a reminder that at the core of Lawrence's appeal isn't just the infectious grooves and horn lines of their full band arrangements, but the foundational songwriting and sibling harmony that gives those songs their heart.