Crowd Favorites Captivate Audience Again

at was a little unusual, in a very good way. Instead of just one performance, the crowd at the coffeehouse enjoyed two separate sets. Marc Lawson, who opened for Jamie DiCiurcio of Next Best Friend, started things off with a piano cover of “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.

“That song has been covered many times, but there is something timeless about it that I love,” said Lawson, who has been playing piano since 2003.

Lawson also composes orchestra arrangements, one of which will be on his new EP.

Though he is by no means any less talented than the next musician, he said he enjoys being the opening act for live shows.

“There is less pressure when you’re not the headliner. People have lower expectations.  So, if you give a good performance, there’s a good chance you can blow people away,” Lawson explained.

Lawson said he and DiCiurcio are a natural fit for performing together. His piano performances compliment DiCiurcio's guitar-based sets, and the two have toured together before.

“Jamie has such a great energy on stage. He writes great songs and works very hard at his live show. He also cracks me up with his jokes and one-liners,” Lawson said of his counterpart's performing style.

Apparently, audiences agree with Lawson's appraisal. The turnout for this two-part show was larger than normal, and DiCiurcio's outgoing nature was partly to blame.

“The people that came out were all folks that I've met playing Promo Shows and around the area. You know, I always tell people even if it's the first time I meet them- we're gonna be friends. And I truly feel that way about people that take the time to come to the show,” he explained.

Neither Lawson and DiCiurcio are strangers at Woodstock Coffeehouse, as both have performed successful shows there before. They say they enjoy the intimate setting of the coffeehouse, and it plays a key role in the way they perform.

“My favorite part about playing the coffeehouse has to be the 'anything goes' kind of atmosphere. It's a super inviting place that I think makes a crowd want to interact and be a part of the show. It's like having a cup of coffee with friends,” DiCiurcio said.

The key word for Saturday night was interaction. DiCiurcio masterfully induced crowd participation with his high-energy performance.

“Playing live is the reason I am a musician. I can't get enough of that experience. I love a quiet audience, but I also love an audience that is going to sing along and yell stuff out. I'm all about it being a  party environment and establishing that connection."

Though he played some originals, like his popular breakup song 28 Seasons and 3 Reasons, he also understands that most audiences crave covers.

“I'm all about not boring the audiences. I've been known to do some classic rock, but I've also been known to do some Lady Gaga. I really like to keep people on their toes,” DiCiurcio said.

Covers aside, DiCiurcio's own musical style fits in the pop rock genre. His style stems from his desire to make listenable and enjoyable songs, and is influenced by all kinds of music. He listens to everything from Keith Urban to Nicki Minaj and is a self-proclaimed music nerd.

DiCiurcio's plans for his future include both records and tours. With his band Next Best Friend, he plays in Atlanta, Columbia, Philadelphia and New York. He calls Georgia home but is often away. 

“I've been down here in Georgia for about a year now. It's a nice home base even though I'm on the road a bunch. The people are super nice and supportive and I've met some of the best musicians in the country,” DiCiurcio said of his Georgian acquaintances.

Next Best Friend already has one album produced, “At the Terminal” and is planning a second demo for the end of this year.

Readers can download “At the Terminal” by Next Best Friend from iTunes, or send an e-mail to nextbestfriend@gmail.com requesting a copy.

Visit Next Best Friend:

www.facebook.com/nextbestfriendmusic

www.nextbestfriendmusic.com

Visit Marc Lawson:

www.marclawsonmusic.com