While on tour last November, fast-rising Chicago keyboardist/frontman Neal Francis and his band stopped by Hear Here Presents Studios in Wisconsin for an intimate live performance. Today, Live For Live Music is thrilled to premiere the footage of Francis’s Hear Here session.
Riding high on a groovy cloud of momentum and fresh off the heels of In Plain Sight, Neal’s sophomore release under his own name, the band recorded three songs at Hear Here’s vintage-psychedelic studio before playing to a packed house at Milwaukee’s Colectivo Backroom later that night.
As drummer Collin O’Brien recalls of restless trek to Milwaukee that made it all possible, “We had driven through the night to make the session, but it proved to be worth it! The vibe they curate at Hear Here Presents is welcoming and friendly, and we loved the experience.”
Joined by O’Brien, bassist Mike Starr, guitarist Kellen Boersma, Neal serenaded a small studio audience with selections from his new record, opening with a dynamic rendition of “Alameda Apartments”. Starr’s quick pedaling on the bass lent a sense of both stability and movement to the piano-driven tune, and Boersma’s guitar solo added a rock n roll flare at the song’s energetic climax.
Related: Marco Benevento Delivers Hear Here Studio Session During A Milwaukee Snowstorm [Video]
The band then reminded the audience to take time and count their blessings with the retro-groover “Say Your Prayers”, featuring a driving Motown-inspired rhythm section courtesy of Starr and O’Brien. Boersma, meanwhile, provided spacey guitar riffs to complement Neal’s effortless flourishes on the baby grand.
The song’s false stop elicited a preemptive cheer from the crowd, but the band grooved on a little longer before playing the song’s final notes. “Now we’re actually done,” Neal announced at the end of the tune.
Neal Francis and company finally closed the session with a melt-in-your-ears rendition of fan favorite “You Can’t Stop the Rain”. The soulful number was a feel-good, funky reminder of Neal’s talent a songwriter—on par with the best of the best yet with a sound all his own.
Watch Neal Francis deliver his Hear Here Presents set below and scroll down to check out a gallery of photos from the session via Daniel Ojeda. View a list of upcoming Neal Francis tour dates and purchase tickets here.
Hear Here Presents: Neal Francis – Full Session
[Video: Hear Here Presents]
