Dana Fuchs’ Love….and Her Music… Lives On

November 5, 2018 by

New York City’s Highline Ballroom played host to Dana Fuchs for a rousing two-hour set on November 2, 2018. This electrifying performance not only showcased her newest album, Love Lives On, but also some of her recent life events, which she shared with the audience.

Dana Fuchs on stage at The Highline Ballroom as Jon Diamond looks on/ photo by Debra L. Rothenberg

Fuchs and her bandmates — writing partner and guitarist Jon Diamond, keyboardist Matt Wade, bassist Brian Gearty and drummer Santo Rizzolo — blended seamlessly with Steven Salcedo’s sax and trumpeter Tyler Kaneshiro and Andrea Urban’s lilting vocal harmonies. The result was a flowing sound that perfectly complemented Dana Fuchs’ trademark gut-wrenching, bluesy vocals that she interspersed with her own brand of street opera choreography.

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Steven Salcedo, Dana Fuchs and Jon Diamond on The Highline Ballroom stage / photo by Debra L. Rothenberg

Fuchs is a no-holds-barred performer, producer and musician who has a unique ability to connect with concert goers, no matter where she’s performing. As she introduced “Callin’ Angels”, a song from her new album, she told the audience, that she knew “a lot of you have lost people you love” and went on to say that  “all we can do is remember that this is it, right here. In the name of music, celebrate life with me ! ”

Celebrating life is her mantra and it was well received throughout the night, especially when she and Jon Diamond took requests that resulted in impromptu renditions of “Sad Solution,” fan favorite “Strung Out” and country rocker “Nothing On My Mind.” Other set highlights were “Ready to Rise,” , “Sedative” and “Faithful Sinner” which revealed her gospel roots  and a softer edge to her powerful vocals.

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Dana Fuchs hits the high notes at The Highline Ballroom / photo by Debra L. Rothenberg

As for the Love Lives On album, life experiences helped shape its genesis from a challenging Pledge Music campaign to its 2018 release. Unlike her last three albums, Love to Beg, Bliss Avenue and Songs From the Road, which were recorded in Brooklyn , Love Lives On was recorded at Ward Archer Studios in Memphis, Tennessee . The 13 tracks are soulful renditions of newly minted Fuchs/ Diamond compositions that include “Back Street Baby,” “Sittin’ On” and, with an assist from Scott Sharrard of the Gregg Allman Band, “Faithful Sinner” and “Ready to Rise.” Dana Fuchs’ musical journey continues; it is one that will touch every listener’s inner being, both in recorded formats and in live performances, which is always a good musical path to follow.