Christian Lopez Band
w/ Kyle Cox and Morgan Erina
Parkway Theater
7-25-2016
Photos and re-cap by Whitney Lerch
Pittsburgh’s own Morgan Erina opened an intimate evening of music at the Parkway Theater in McKees Rocks on July 25th. Gracing the stage in a newsprint dress, Erina’s haunting voice filled the Parkway with the poignant and moving lyrics of songs like “Runner”, “Violent Love” and the song she wrote about her mother, “Lady”. She stirred the audience with her cover of “Nothing Compares 2 U” and Ray LaMontagne’s “Jolene”. Morgan’s soft, intoxicating voice always cuts straight to the core of me. If you weren’t able to join us at the Parkway, you’ll be able to see her set soon on WQED Sessions! Morgan’s next local show is this Sunday at Randy Baumann’s Hartwood Ramble at Hartwood Acres.
Orlando raised, Nashville based singer songwriter Kyle Cox was up next, for a solo, acoustic set that gave the crowd a glimpse into his life. You quickly come to find that Kyle’s lyrics are like a window that he’s opened up that allows one to look into his journey through life and with songs like Trusty Ol’ Pair of Boots and No Future (both of which, despite their names, are beautiful stories of the love he shares with his wife). It’s “Fields of My Heart” though, that is an unrecorded song that he was willing to play on request (thanks, Kyle!) that nearly paralyzes my while he sings it. While this may not sound like much, if you know me at all, when I say that I set my camera down for the entirety of that song, you can be assured it is the most captivating song of the evening. Kyle even won a guitar for writing that song…though I feel it deserves much more of an award that that đ Kyle plans to return to Pittsburgh in early 2017, so keep your eyes on his website (www.kylecoxmusic.com) and follow him on social media, so you don’t miss out!
To close out the night, West Virginia based folk-rock group Christian Lopez Band hit the stage with unbelievable energy. With the upbeat tempo carried on throughout their set, it no longer mattered that it was late on a Monday night. Not only are Christian’s songwriting and vocals remarkable, but his stage presence can’t be beat and all of this at only 20 years old…this kid is going places. That much I can tell you. They started off with originals like “Morning Rise” and “Man I Was Before”, which really grabbed my attention from the first note. But, I’ll be honest, when he said he was about to cover the Beatles, I was a bit taken aback and skeptical. I actually have a bit of a love affair with good cover songs, so I usually melt when good covers are worked into a performance. But, I mean seriously, who covers the Beatles and does it well??? Christian Lopez Band, that’s who. They absolutely crushed “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and I feel I owe them an apology for my initial thoughts about it. Christian (on guitar), bassist Jason Navo and drummer Ricky Wise could have played all night long and I don’t think I would have ever went home. Alas, they had to hit the road for a show in Maryland the following evening, so I was sad that the music came to an end. While this might have been my first Christian Lopez show, I assure you, it won’t be my last. In fact, he’ll be back in town at Club Cafe on October 3rd, with Tony Lucca. So any of you that are going to that, I’ll see you there!
Christian Lopez Band
Kyle Cox
Morgan Erina
Christian Lopez Band Setlist:
Morning Rise
Between Us
This Romance
Man I Was Before
I’d have to be crazy – Willie Nelson
Stay With You
Silver Line
All The Time
She’s So Heavy
Take You Away
Use Me
Don’t Know How
How I Got To Memphis
Will I See You Again
