I recently had the pleasure of making my way to The 27 Club to cover Jared and the Mill live with opening act Alanna Sterling. The crowd was wowed from start to finish with this very interactive show.
The talented singer/songwriter Alanna Sterling, who was also celebrating her birthday on this night, hit the stage first with her guitar, stage persona and powerful vocals. Born and raised in Ottawa, Sterling has become a familiar name having played the market building her fan-base. Opening her set with Stone Cold Killer, a song she wrote, the crowed was hooked. Her ability to hit those high notes was something spectacular to hear and her guitar playing was catchy and fresh. Sterling is currently working with a producer in LA on new material to be released in the near future. Keep an eye out for her.
Things just continued in an upright direction when Jared and the Mill hit the stage. With there rock, folk, indie sound they delivered an amazing set to the audience. There charisma and enthusiasm they showed with each song couldn’t have been received any better.
For most of the show the crowd was standing and singing up front at the stage which worked out nicely when the band decided to leave the stage inviting everyone to gather around them as they played among them. A nice intimate moment that I found classy.
These guys have an intense stage presence. Each commands and controls their instruments with near perfection. At one point there was a guitar solo that I just couldn’t look away from. Turns out I wasn’t alone – I looked around and everyone was just as taken as I was. The vocals were strong and appealing. The harmonies were pure and distinctive – matched perfectly in each song. There songs are just a wonderful addition to what the music world has to offer us.
My verdict: The performance from both Alanna Sterling and Jared and the Mill were high energy and entertaining with beautiful songs delivered perfectly. If this is a sign of the times to come, sign me up for the ride. Go catch them when they are in your area.
