Growing Fame + Talented Artists = A Shift in Crowd

Written by Emmi Weiner - Photography by Colin LaVaute

REFLECTIONS ON ARLO MCKINLEY & RITCH HENDERSON IN COLUMBIA

When you’ve been following an artist for a while, you get used to the crowds. Some artists have great crowds, others leave a lot to be desired. At Rose Music Hall on April 22, I think I witnessed a rare thing: a shift in crowds as artists grow. 

I have been a fan of Ritch Henderson and Arlo McKinley for a while now. I have come to expect beers to be a little saltier (from tears), the mood to be a little forlorn, and a sense of community that comes only from sharing space and music. This show was different. 

 As I arrived at the venue, I was impressed that people had shown up for the opener. Since Covid, the crowds for openers have been thinner than I remember them before. I was excited to see how the sold-out crowd would react to Ritch Henderson’s smooth vocal styling and gut-wrenching lyrics. 

The show was pushed back about 30 minutes and the room filled even more. There was a buzz in the air, and the crowd grew. When Ritch finally took the stage, the crowd barely seemed to notice at first. As Ritch moved through his set, he started telling the story about his song “Dock Lights” from his new record. The crowd didn’t even flinch as Ritch shared some of his childhood in rural Alabama. My heart broke and Ritch’s voice somehow managed to make it over the crowd. As he wrapped up his set with a stunning rendition of “Hello Darling,” the crowd finally gave him the cheers he deserved.

As Arlo McKinley took the stage, the crowd seemed to finally settle in, it felt like he had a better handle on the crowd, but only because they let him. He ran through some songs and threw in a few covers, all sprinkled with a few “shut the fuck up”s as well. I was so distracted I wasn’t able to give my full attention either.

What usually were sets that pour more tears than the bar pours beers, were a contest between the crowd and the performers. At one point, Arlo stopped to break up a girl fight because the crowd was so stiff security wasn't quick enough to get there. There were small moments of singing along but for the most part, the tension between the crowd and the performers pulled focus away from the music itself.

  Nevertheless, it was great to see both live again and I hope to see them again soon.