Lacey Sturm hit Brooklyn’s The Brooklyn Monarch with some very special guests for her tour. Originally the lead singer of 00s favorites Flyleaf, Sturm has been a solo act for the past 10 years, releasing two solo albums including her most recent release, “Kenotic Metanoia.” Openers on her Brooklyn stop included Gina Fritz, Amethyst Michelle, and Islander.
We unfortunately arrived too late and missed Gina Fritz, however, we were able to catch Amethyst Michelle opening up the show. Amethyst Michelle surprised fans with her charismatic charm and her catchy indie rock melodies. Although the music is accompanied by anxious lyrics, Amethyst Michelle’s stage presence is anything but. Her energetic moves around the stage pumped up the crowd for the acts to follow.
Next up was Islander, who through music, told their troubled story through record labels. Originally signed to a record label and then kicked out, their latest release “Grammy Nominated” is a sarcastic title to describe their feelings toward being cut from their label. As lead singer Mickey Carbajal states, although the band may not be number one or Grammy Nominated, being third place is still something to be proud of. The band put on a show that encouraged stage divers and even a cake passed around by the crowd. Islander finished their set with Lacey Sturm coming out to sing “It’s Not Easy Being Human.”
Lacey Sturm might be best known for her time with Flyleaf, however, the singer-songwriter has had a successful solo career, producing two full-length albums. As a fan of Sturm since her Flyleaf days, I was delighted to hear she would continue solo instead of quitting music. Like so many others, I have grown up with her voice, whether through Flyleaf or solo. The fans who showed up on July 2nd to the Brooklyn Monarch shared very much the same feelings towards Sturm. The love and admiration was felt throughout the crowd that showed up for her. When Sturm came on stage, she surprised me by how small she is, yet having such a large voice. Her humbleness could be seen and felt from the stage through her sweet and calm mannerisms. She played all her personal hits, including new songs off her latest album and Flyleaf favorites like “All Around Me” and “I’m So Sick.” It was such a pleasure to see Sturm still thriving with her husband, her guitar player, by her side.
