I cannot think of a better place for Trevor Hall to end his 'KALA' tour than in the Green Mountain State. On Friday night, October 30th, along with some of my friends, I attended the last show of his 2015 tour at Higher Ground, a small concert venue in Burlington, Vermont. Trevor and his band put on an incredible show and the vibe in the whole place was exhilarating the entire night. Higher Ground's small space provided an intimate experience, which matched perfectly with Trevor's soothing and spiritual acoustic music. There was so much energy coming from both the stage and crowd, and the two-hour show was an incredibly emotional and uplifting event.
Trevor Hall and his band (photo credit: Kayla Schneider)
Before Trevor and his band came on stage, two great artists opened the night and pumped up the crowd. Christina Holmes pleased the whole audience with her quirky sense of humor and, of course, her flawless acoustic performance. Armed with only her guitar and voice, Christina's positive attitude and feel-good songs made for a great start to the night. Next, Will Evans came on and blew the crowd away with his incredible talent. Using his guitar, a didgeridoo, a loop pedal, and his singing and beat boxing skills, Will gave an extremely energetic performance. It was an exciting surprise when he mentioned that he graduated from Saint Michael's College— of course, all the St. Mike's students in the crowd went wild.
Will Evans (photo credit: Kayla Schneider)
After much anticipation, Trevor Hall and his band finally came on stage. If you're not familiar with Trevor's music, he is a well-accomplished singer, songwriter, and musician with a unique sound, involving a mix of acoustic rock, reggae, and sanskrit chanting. He has toured with artists such as Matisyahu, The Wailers, Michael Franti, and Colbie Caillat. Trevor has traveled to India several times and has been inspired by yoga and the spiritual practices of the country, and that has certainly played a huge part in his music and life. Along with the soothing sounds of his voice, the several instruments he plays, and his band, Trevor's songs are also full of inspiring messages. One of my personal favorites is "Indigo." Before playing this song, Trevor explained the inspiration and meaning behind it; the song is based on a dream of his that was interpreted by a Lakota woman he knows. One of the greatest parts of a concert experience is getting to hear more personal details about songs from the artists themselves, and Trevor was definitely very open about that. During his performance of "You Can't Rush Your Healing," Trevor became very emotional and teared up while explaining his struggles during his recent illness. Of course, he also performed one of his most popular songs, "Green Mountain State," a nod to the state of Vermont, where he spent time finding spiritual healing and growth.
Trevor Hall (photo credit: Kayla Schneider)
Overall, the night was full of immense talent and high energy. The two opening acts displayed their individual styles and got the crowd super excited. Trevor Hall and his band delivered a spectacular performance and left the crowd in extremely high spirits all night. Trevor's distinct and impeccable voice, along with the entire band's incredible musical talent, carried the crowd along a spiritual journey. Music has the power to be a universal language, and Trevor's songs certainly united everyone at Higher Ground with their sweet, hypnotic melodies and uplifting messages. The earthy and easy sound of Trevor's music is both calming and invigorating, and hearing it live is a whole new level of bliss. After the band bowed for their final song, everyone stood cheering until they came back for an encore. Trevor thanked everyone who made his tour possible, as well as expressing his gratitude toward the crowd for our energy. An equally humble and talented person, Trevor certainly deserved all the praise the crowd offered him that night. I think it's safe to say he ended his tour on the right note and in the right place.
Trevor Hall and his band (photo credit: Kayla Schneider)
Learn more about Trevor Hall here: http://www.trevorhallmusic.com and check out his music on iTunes or Spotify
