Hearts were replenished and filled on a comfortably chill night in Cleveland at the independently-owned Grog Shop with Patrick Droney and newcomer Cecilia Castleman.
Several guitars lined the right side of the stage while whimsically placed 4:3 standard TVs sat stacked in the back. If you haven’t been to The Grog Shop before, you might think this was the standard stage setup, but it would later be revealed to be specific to this show. Unceremoniously, Cecilia Castleman‘s way to the stage was illuminated by a security guard’s flashlight. This was Castleman’s first time touring outside of her hometown in Tennessee. The competition in Nashville is fierce, so having the opportunity for her to venture out to the rest of the states raised the expectations of those who had never heard her music before. Her tone was not that of a high-voltage party but a heartfelt meaningful aura with earthy vocals. She is a solo guitarist and songwriter creating sad love songs.
As she announced her intentions to sing “Pick and Lose,” she also divulged, “Don’t listen to the lyrics because it has all of my secrets in it.” She seemed naively sweet in her dialogue with the audience. She also mentioned how great and inspiring Patrick Droney and his band have been in having her open for them. She may be new to touring, but she already has her stories. One involving David Lee Roth and John Mayer when she made her first album was particularly entertaining.
Some of her songs started with soothing and terrific gentle blues yet transformed into dramatic notes and vocals. That kind of dramatic change-up generates interest to check out more songs online. One song, “It’s Alive” shared some qualities with Shakey Graves’ music when he was a one-man act. At times, her vocals challenged the size of the venue but still ended harmoniously. She played for just over half an hour, stating, “I’ll be out there in the back. It’ll be nice to see ya’ll out there.” You would have to be a cold person to neglect to take her up on her offer to say hi, or desperate to keep your spot near the stage for the headliner.
Two college guys were geeking on peddle boards while all of the women in the front waited for Patrick Droney to take to the stage to get a few shots with their mobile devices. With their phones already out, they took turns snapping the setlist once it was posted to the stage. Fans got to pay a premium here for VIP treatment that included a meet and greet, swag bag, and first to enter The Grog Shop to line up in front of the stage. Patrick impressively released his first album when he was only 16.
Escorted on stage through the crowd from the green room with his bandmates, the crowd erupted into excitement. “Welcome to the movie,” Patrick Droney announces to the audience just before turning on one of the monitors on stage to what looks and sounds like a movie trailer introducing Patrick Droney.
Patrick is about as nice of a performer as you will ever meet. And if you know his music, you love his music. Versed with the guitar like John Mayer, at times sounding like Rick Springfield, and skilled with his his lyrics like the Avett Brothers or John Moreland. He is an amalgam of talent more humble than a roadside vagabond.
After his second song, “Caroline,” he addressed the crowd, “I’ve had the honor to meet some of you and I just feel like I’m up here tonight jamming with my friends. That’s the vibe.” He loves what he does, but drives home, he could do none of it without his fans. “It’s your movie. It’s your movie and I get to soundtrack it sometimes.” His sophomore album, Subtitles For Feelings released less than a month ago punctuates that thought.
He played with the audience and interacted often with the six-piece band with dueling guitar solos and vibrant laughter throughout the performance. The kind of laughter brought on without words, just catching the eyes of a bandmate who enjoys what they’re doing as much as you.
Droney has a way with words. His fans live for it, and all seemingly have different lyrics dear to them. Quoting them here would be tedious and meaningless. They can’t be dictated but have to be felt on a personal level where you feel like you can relate to Patrick because he knows the human condition. He feeds off the energy of the crowd throughout the night. The studio versions can’t match the live energy and endearing soul of Patrick Droney live.
This show was covered as part of our fundraising trip for National Independent Venue Foundation and Musicians On Call. We are traveling across the country and stopping at independently-owned music venues to cover a show and to chat with their owners about the importance of independent music venues within the music industry. Cleveland was our second stop of the trip and we were lucky enough to be able to interview both Patrick Droney and the owner of The Grog Shop, Kathy Blackman, so keep an eye out for those.You can read more about this fundraising trip here. If you would like to donate to NIVF, you can do so here, and if you would like to donate to Musicians On Call, you can do so here. All proceeds go directly to your chosen organization.
