The first words that greeted me as I stepped into Jensen McRae‘s concert at the El Rey on Wednesday night were, “Would you like a mask?” Clusters of black N95 masks were handed out by workers as eager concert-goers streamed into the storied Los Angeles music venue, excited to hear the folk alternative pop singer with the hauntingly soft yet gritty alto voice and forget about their worries.
Inside, the temperature felt 10 degrees cooler than outside on Wilshire Blvd. Still, as the night progressed, the crowd settled into their designated spots, clasping new drinks, reconnecting with friends, and scanning the merchandise. Everyone buzzed in anticipation for Woodland Hills native and USC graduate Jensen McRae to grace the stage. But first, the crowd enjoyed a stellar performance by Tarzana native Lauren Juzang.
Lauren Juzang took to the stage with a warm, inviting demeanor, breaking the ice with lighthearted jokes about her eczema and scoliosis that garnered ripples of laughter from the audience. She captivated the crowd with a cover of Owl City’s “Fireflies,” whisking us back to the nostalgia of 2009 when life felt simpler. With heartfelt introspection woven into her next song, “Yeeho!”, she opened up about love and heartache while jamming out with her bandmates, two best friends she’d known for nearly half her life.
RELATED: Artists You Should Know: Lauren Juzang Creates
A 30-minute intermission followed, which felt excessive; however, the restlessness of the concert-goers hardly appeared. Instead, they flitted about like vibrant social butterflies, mixing and mingling as if they were at a Wednesday night youth group mixer for spirited individuals—devout and the wanderers—finding solace and connection amidst the crowd.
This night was for smooth listening, social distancing, and matching Birkenstocks or sperrys for future escapades to Montauk and Nantucket. Even though both Lauren Juzang and headliner Jensen McRae hailed from California, the essence of their indie folk conjured memories of the Pocono Mountains, the debate over pork rolls or Taylor Hams, steaming chai tea lattes, and a tapestry of sentimentality tied to cherished summers and East Coast vacations. Maybe it’s the Tracy Chapman vibes they bring or what I envisioned when I heard Juzang’s “Thurdsday’s In June” or McRae’s song “Massachusetts,” (or maybe that I’m from the East Coast).
As the curtains unexpectedly whisked open to reveal instruments but no band, anticipation rippled through the crowd like a current, intensifying by the second. This wasn’t just any night; it was one of Jensen McRae’s first performances at the El Rey, a night bubbling with crowd favorites such as “The Rearranger,” “Praying for Your Downfall,” and tracks from her new album, I Don’t Know How They Found Me, alongside cherished selections from her earlier work, Are You Happy?, including “Dead Girl Walking” and “My Ego Dies at the End.”
I couldn’t overlook her renditions of “White Boy” and “God Has A Hitman,” both bold tracks that delved into cultural complexities surrounding love, self-doubt, and comparison—struggles she navigated throughout her life—nor could I forget her mesmerizing cover of The Script’s “Breakeven (Falling To Pieces).”
At the front of the stage, a starry-eyed fan hoisted a sign high that read, “Tickets cheaper than therapy.” Clad in a dazzling rhinestone-covered black jumpsuit, clear glasses, and combat boots, Jensen McRae engaged with the crowd, setting the tone for her emotional hit “Savannah.”
“I encouraged you, one—to sing and scream along to this song if you knew the words,” she urged, “But also let go of anything that weighed you down. Remember, you weren’t defined by those burdens, and you certainly weren’t facing some divine punishment for what you’d endured. I learned this, and I’m grateful for this song and the healing it’s brought me and all of you. It’s about a town in Georgia called Savannah.”
The crowd exploded in cheers, resonating with her words. As I scanned the sea of masked faces, I could see fans’ eyes glistening with unspoken sorrow, hands pressed over their hearts, exhaling sighs of relief as they found solace in the heartfelt lyrics of Jensen McRae.
That night felt like a pseudo-therapy session, offering a comforting hug to those yearning for understanding. I sincerely hoped everyone left with a piece of that reassurance, a reminder that the scars of the past did not need to dictate one’s identity.
That’s the profound beauty of music. Good music. It reached deep into the soul and could lift even the heaviest spirits from darkness. It served as self-help in its truest and cheapest form.
As I made my way out of the venue, I noticed an abundance of N95 masks and free COVID tests available for attendees to grab on their way out, seamlessly tying together the evening’s themes of healing and care.
RELATED: 2022 Forecast — Artists to Watch Featuring Jensen McRae
This post may contain affiliate links. Ads and affiliate links are how independent blogs like Grimy Goods can operate. Thank you for supporting our work and being a part of our music community.
