Normally I am not a fan of solo tours. I want to see the band and feel the energy.  However, M.C. Taylor, who writes, records and performs as the face of Hiss Golden Messenger, basically said to me, “Here, hold my beer.”

I have seen him with his band twice before and absolutely loved both shows, but this night, without his band, was different. The room was small and not overly crowded and when Taylor walked to the front of the stage at Harrisburg Midtown Art Center with his Martin guitar he had everyone’s undivided attention. A singular yellow can light shined on the front of his face from above and a starry sky was projected on the screen behind him as he told the audience that tonight’s setlist was made from requests he had received on Instagram.

It was a quiet, retrospective night which seemed to suit the majority of the crowd who needed to pick their kids up from the babysitter and get ready for work the next morning. The show started at 8:00 and Taylor joked that he’d have everyone in bed by 9:00. Thankfully he played a bit longer than just one hour. The only thing disturbing this night was the sound of the Metal show going on upstairs. It felt like you were in your living room trying to have a nice relaxing evening and your asshole neighbors had their music way too loud.

Without a band behind him, Taylor’s songs felt more relatable. It was easier to connect with the lyrics. Lyrics that take absorbing and thinking about to truly set in. Lyrics that make you question how you think about the world without Taylor revealing how he thinks because he’s figuring it out also. He is contemplating his beliefs about religion, family, work, and relationships with you. His feet are straddling the line.

Even the chords he plays on his guitar are situated between minor and major. The sounds that make you feel sad and happy, respectively. In this way, stripped down, it is the vocal melodies that really carry the song. 

Taylor asked his fans on social media for songs that they wanted to hear in Harrisburg which ensured that the favorites were played. Biloxi, Jenny of the Roses, and Sanctuary all made it into the night’s list. 

Taylor really made my night when he told the audience that he wasn’t going to do the thing that everyone seems to do and leave the stage for thirty seconds and come back on for the so-called encore. Adding that he thought that we might have moved past that after Covid. He ended the set with Drum and I Need A Teacher.

As Taylor finished and left the stage, we were all reminded that a Metal show was going on upstairs.