The Sounds from longboat hall

With a line out the door, Longboat Hall had Toronto natives waiting outside the door for one of the city's rising indie/ R&B artists Lyle Kam. Doors opened and the venue quickly filled similar to opening night at the globe theater. The first opener, Ley Vara,took the stage and immediately began to serenade the crowd with her soft voice and beautiful lyrics. Small interactions with the audience made her performance feel like you have always been friends with Ley.

Next was the amazing Lauryn Kovacs, taking the stage and playing the guitar while showing the crowd her equally soft voice. Lauryn played a song by the name “Leaving Town” and the crowd was visibly emotional as the artist sang what seemed like a song that was written from real experience.

As a surprise to the attendants, Lauryn and Ley, came together on stage and began performing as a duo. Introducing themselves for the first time to the world as “Frank”, a project of two artists emerging their sounds as a duet. The duo began to sing ethereal harmonies that brought loud cheers and roars from the audience. Every second on stage made it very apparent that the duo was meant to sing together. From perfectly synchronized voices, to smiles on their face even when the mic was accidentally unplugged. It was very clear nothing could take this amazing moment from them.

After the stunning “Frank” walked off stage there was a small intermission where the audience was able to mingle ; getting familiar and comfortable with the fellow fans around them. As soon as the main act came out the entire room got as close to the stage as possible. Lyle Kam, the long anticipated headliner of the night, took the stage and set the expectations for the soon to be night full of beautiful music and vibes ahead. 

Every note Lyle played had the crowd swaying back and forth like the guitar itself had been enchanted. After referencing one of his favorite artists, Ed Sheeran, he began to use a foot pedal to loop different notes and vocals. Kam's song “Rather Be With You”, had felt like a performance by an entire band, when in reality it was just Lyle and his loop pedal. He followed with a cover of Ed Sheeran’s “Give Me Love” that both himself and the crowd became very visibly emotional and engaged. During the middle of the record there was a gradual increase in the tempo of the song that gave the sense of empowerment unlike anything I had ever heard live.

Following this amazing performance Lyle came into the crowd and sang a raw and acoustic song, making the audience feel like they were at a campfire rather than a concert hall. This performance led to the loudest applause of the night. Lyle then went back on stage to play an unreleased song in which he even made a joke about the song itself being named "unreleased song”.

Before ending the night with a more upbeat feeling he brought an audience member on stage to battle in beyblades, losing to her with the wager of a Pokemon card opening. From angelic harmonies and invigorating guitar loops, beyblade battles, and a performance from the crowd,the night was made memorable. Emotional at its core but an enjoyable night with amazing music. Lyle Kam is a sound you can't get out of your head once you hear it.