Duncan Sheik with Lauren Pritchard and Holly Brook

McGlohon Theatre

Nov. 9, 2008

The Deal: Chamber-pop artist Duncan Sheik plays with Holly Brook and Spring Awakening’s Lauren Pritchard at McGlohon Theatre.

The Good: Lauren Pritchard began with a solo set of her own songs, which will be featured on the debut album she is currently recording. She rotated, playing the keyboard and piano while singing soulful melodies. At the end of her set, she played a cover of Gavin DeGraw’s song “Just Friends.” A short intermission followed and then Duncan Sheik took the stage. Instrumentalists on the cello, horn, clarinet, bass, drums and guitar backed him up with harmonic sounds to his already pleasing melodies. He started the show with a handful of older songs like “For You,” “Wishful Thinking,” “Such Reveries,” and “Barely Breathing.” After this Sheik went on to sing tunes from the musical Spring Awakening. Each one dealt with issues that adolescents face. He finished that part of his set with the melancholy song “I Don’t Do Sadness.” Sheik went onto storytelling, as he began playing songs, which will be featured on his future album Whisper House. He explained that the album is set to an upcoming stage production about a boy who encounters ghosts, while living with his aunt near a lighthouse. Starting with “Better To Be Dead” and finishing with “Take a Bow,” Sheik mixed seriousness and humor throughout. Sheik’s voice flowed well with Brook’s and Pritchard’s, both of whom sang with him on many of the tunes.

The Bad: I wish Duncan would have played a few more older songs. He played his biggest hits, but skipped over much of the rest. Old-school Duncan Sheik fans most likely left wanting just a few more.

The Verdict: Sheik may be doing something much different than his previous music efforts, but it’s not bad. His story telling, along with his new and well-structured songs made for an interesting and intimate set.