BWW Reviews: STEVE KAZEE Wows at Rockwell!
Steve Kazee is best known for his Tony award-winning role as Guy in the musical Once. He has since been seen as Gus on the Showtime show, Shameless. On February 6th, patrons at Rockwell had the pleasure of experiencing his very first Los Angeles show.
Clearly gifted with a strong voice meant for the stage, he held his own playing a set of both original and cover songs. Steve Kazee is a performer through and through, entertaining the crowd with ancedotes of the time he worked in Spamalot with Christian Borle and when the late Mike Nichols scolded them both for breaking character during their scenes together. He shared poignant, personal stories while speaking of musician Damien Jurado. He covered Damien Jurado's "Beacon Hill" recently on Shameless and for the crowd at Rockwell. He played a couple of original songs with Hunchback of Notre Dame and Anger Management's Michael Arden accompanying him beautifully on the piano. Cover songs included "Faithful Heights" by Night Beds, "Still Trying" by Nathaniel Rateliff, "Starlings" by Elbow.
Every song was tinged with a hint of a country accent, that slow drawl often heard in numerous country songs, but country with an edge. Words were punctuated with a sharp strum of the guitar, which he played masterfully, comfortable with the guitar in his hands as if it was an extention of his voice. Even while playing a brief cover of Matchbox Twenty's "3 A.M." and yes, "...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears, he imitated each artist while still maintaining vocal originality that was purely Steve Kazee.
Steve did not disappoint fans of his hit Broadway show Once. He made sure to play "While Your Mind's Made Up," "Gold," and brought Deaf Awakening star Katie Boeck to duet with him on the hit "Falling Slowly." Introduced to him by Michael Arden, artist Katie Boeck's gentle and mesmerizing voice intertwined with Steve's to create a wonderful rendition of the song.
While certainly a compelling actor, Steve Kazee is an equally compelling and charismatic musician. If he ever performs near or around your city -- go. He will not disappoint.
Photo Credit: Aimee Curameng
Michael Arden and Katie Boeck
Michael Arden, Katie Boeck, and Steve Kazee
Katie Boeck and Steve Kazee
Katie Boeck and Steve Kazee
Schuyler Helford, Michael Arden, Sean Grandillo, Katie Boeck, Kimiko Glenn,
Joseph Haro, Kathryn Gallagher, Alexandra Silber
Schuyler Helford, Michael Arden, Sean Grandillo, Katie Boeck, Kimiko Glenn,
Joseph Haro, Kathryn Gallagher, Alexandra Silber
Rockwell: Table & Stage is located at 1714 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027.
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