Go north for Gregory Alan Isakov at the Mystic Theatre
Folk singer Gregory Alan Isakov has come a long way, geographically and creatively, from his native Johannesburg. A traveler by nature, his songs reflect the weariness of the road, along with the particular exquisite beauties that are found only in the itinerant life. His gentle and introspective folk manages to collapse the distance between the broadest reaches of the American landscape and the small, quiet things found within oneself. Isakov’s lyrics hit upon familiar touchstones — whiskey and smoke, odes to the natural world, the melancholy of dwindling love — without lapsing into cliché. Now hailing from Boulder, Colorado, he [...]
Review + Photos: Gregory Alan Isakov backed by The Magik*Magik Orchestra at The Fox Theater
Gregory Alan Isakov (photo: Sara Uduwela) Gregory Alan Isakov serenaded a full house at The Fox Theater in Oakland on Wednesday night, August 10, 2016. The South-African born singer-songwriter connected intimately with his audience during his 2-hour set. Backed by The Magik*Magik Orchestra, Isakov filled Oakland’s historic venue with echoes of folk music. Isakov shared personal stories of songwriting. He spoke about creative roadblocks and how he finds the right balance of “flutie-ness” for his songs. The audience cheered for “more sad songs” before falling into silence to hear every instrument and every tone of his voice. [...]