It’s a Monday night, and Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom is buzzing. An older man wearing an Avril Lavigne tour shirt that could by some definitions be considered vintage stands to the side, next to two teens for whom enthusiasm sheds like glitter. Along the back wall, a dad pushes his toddler’s stroller back and forth to the tempo of “Call Me Maybe,” passed by two men who pause briefly to share a quick kiss. A 20-something balances her iPhone and her Budweiser in one hand.
Though to most of pop-listening Americans, Jepsen’s moment in the sun was the mega smash, which prompted waves of viral video, enlisted Justin Bieber and friends, and in which she implored a heartthrob – gay, unfortunately for her – to call her, maybe. But for last night’s crowd, that was just the beginning – and if you’re not sure, it takes just a quick scan of the room to realize that they know almost every word.
Jepsen’s sophomore album, E•MO•TION, was one of 2015’s most critically lauded and commercially snubbed records. It didn’t yield Jepsen the next “Call Me Maybe,” nor, per interviews, did she want it to. Instead, it built her this – a sold out venue of fans that sing with her, dance with her, and convene with her to discuss “Boy Problems.” “Real talk here: anyone have any boy problems?” Jepsen asked. “Alright. Let’s deal with them.”
It’s also a perfect crowd for introducing new talent. Jepsen’s is a crowd that isn’t seeking the next big flash in the pan, they want to connect with music in a sincere way. Fairground Saints, a trio who earn titles like folk-pop and draw comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and Lady Antebellum, are immeasurably talented, with effortless understanding of their interwoven musicalities. Their three part harmonies are typically spectacular, though they were not on hand in Nashville as Megan McAllister was on vocal rest. However, each of the three could easily own center stage, and [other two] traded frontman status with ease, through originals like “Can’t Control The Weather” and covers like Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself.”
Indie pop duo Cardiknox followed, with the feisty and emotive Lonnie Angle taking the stage by storm. Decked in a backless leotard and black metallic spandex leggings, she was a force, a maelstrom fueled by the synth-y uptempos. The group sampled from their newest album, Portrait.
Then there was Jepsen herself. Small in stature and large in smiles, the Canadian took the crowd through much of E•MO•TION, with highs like “Run Away With Me” and intimate moments like “All That.” She also performed a new song, “Fever.” Jepsen shared stories along the way – she once, for instance, met Mike Tyson at a party with Bieber and subsequently would dream about having conversations with him. “I really, really, really, really, really, really, like you,” she sang to close the show, and if the shaking of the venue due to dancing was any indication, the crowd liked her back.
