Neal Francis has been playing piano since he was 4, and boy can you tell.
He bends chords with his piano whammy board on one song, takes you to church on the organ on the next, and funks it the f**k up on the keyboards a song later. Grooving along with him are his talented bandmates, Kellen Boersma (can rip a sweet guitar solo), Mike Starr (bassist; best hair), and Collin O’Brien (the heartbeat).
Cleveland showed up for the dance party at Beachland Ballroom this past weekend and it was delivered along with some psychedelic light production. Francis is touring in support of his most recent (and acclaimed) albums, 2022’s Sentimental Garbage and 2021’s In Plain Sight (which was written while living in the parsonage of church on the northwest side of Chicago). He’ll be on the road for the foreseeable future, so be sure to check him out.
SETLIST
Don’t Call Me No More
How Have I Lived
This Time
Say Your Prayers
Changes, Pts. 1 & 2
She’s a Winner
Strawberry Letter 23 (Shuggie Otis cover)
Very Fine
Can’t Stop the Rain (Intro jam)
Reprise (How Have I Lived)
Sentimental Garbage
I’m Watching You
BNYLV
