Following the release of his highly anticipated third studio album, Return to Zero, on March 14th, Neal Francis took his tour of the same name to New York’s Webster Hall, delivering a night of soulful jams that peaked with a powerhouse 15-piece ensemble performing selections from the new record.

Kicking off the show, support act Improvement Movement set the tone with a set of vintage-inspired, harmony-driven psychedelic indie rock. Francis then took the stage with his band for a dynamic headlining set featuring a mix of classic material and songs from his new album, which was “influenced by Electric Light Orchestra and the way Jeff Lynne synthesizes classical music and pop songwriting.”

At the end of the night, coming out of fan favorite “Changes”, Francis brought out several special guests including a four-piece string section, saxophonist Lucas Ellman, and all of Improvement Movement, who added lush backup vocals on a trio of tunes from Return to Zero, “Need You Again”, “Can’t Get Enough”, and “Don’t Wait”, plus a tribute to the late great Roy Ayers.

After that climactic finale, Francis and his band returned for an encore, once again welcoming out Lucas Ellman to sit in on “BNYLV”. When the crowd cheered for one more song, Francis finished the encore with another from the new album, “150 More Times”.

Check out pro-shot footage from Neal Francis’ wild night at Webster Hall along with a gallery of photos courtesy of Kevin Cole. The entire show is available to stream via nugs.

The Return to Zero tour continues throughout April and May with shows spanning the South, Midwest, and West Coast. Francis also has upcoming gigs with Fitz And The Tantrums and a number of international tour dates. Find a full list of shows and ticketing information here.

Neal Francis – “Problems”, “Already Gone”, “How Have I Lived” – 3/27/25