Chicago – The line outside The Riviera Theatre slowly snaked its way inside the double doors, or at least the women’s line did. The men in attendance quickly walked through security, while the largely female congregation put a kink in the chain. The ladies sure do love U.K. folk artist Ben Howard. They were out in droves to see the twenty-seven year old singer-songwriter. Howard and his band have been touring North America in support of I Forget Where We Were (Republic/Island) and selling out shows left and right. Chicago was no exception.

The night started out with “Small Things.” Howard strummed his guitar, bathed darkness. The backlight grew, making him a silhouette until finally he was immersed in white and green lights. The loud hum of excitement that initially greeted the shaggy-haired blonde quieted as eyes across the room focused on the soulful Englishman. Fans watched in awe. Lights burst from the stage. Howard’s powerful voice drifted to the balcony; “Has the world gone mad / Or is it me?” There wasn’t an empty seat to be found in the balcony above. People sat on stairs and stood in the aisles to catch a glimpse. Some filled the couches and chairs of the second floor, unable to see the masterful performer, but it didn’t seem to matter. They sat with eyes closed, taking it all in, while grinning blissfully.

When the band broke into “Time is Dancing,” a man up front exhaled an enthusiastic, “Yes!” Others whistled in approval. Between the size of the crowd and the energy in the room, you’d never guess it was a Wednesday night. Howard joked it felt like a Saturday. He thanked his fans for all the love and for coming out in the snow. After all, it was just a few days ago Chicago had an historic blizzard, but once you’ve heard Ben Howard live, you know not much, if anything, could keep one away from the legendary Londoner.

The packed house clapped louder and louder as the songs went on. Howard’s exquisite voice paired wonderfully with his acoustic guitar. His fingers moved like magic, intricately strumming and picking, proving his talents lie far beyond the depth of his lyrics and beautiful sound of his voice. When he played LA last fall, Best New Bands noted that “Howard’s sound is so earnest” that it feels “as though he is holding your hand and dancing alongside you.” That especially held true for “Conrad.” At times, it also felt as though Howard was standing beside you whispering his passionate lyrics, his breath tickling your ear, giving you goosebumps… but that chill simply came from the astounding beauty before you. A beauty that brought many to tears.

Ben Howard played every song off his sophomore album I Forget Where We Were and a few oldies like “Black Flies,” off his 2011 debut Every Kingdom, and “Oats in the Water” from The Burgh Island EP. Howard and his band exited the stage after “All Is Now Harmed.” After quite the outpouring of affection and calls for more, they returned for a three-song encore, which ended with “The Fear.” Fans clapped along to the beat. Some danced around in the aisles. In that moment, no one seemed to be worrying about living their lives “in the confines of fear.”

A Ben Howard show is not to be missed! He is on tour now. Click HERE for tour dates. I Forget Where We Were is available for purchase on iTunes.

Photos of Ben Howard by Sarah Hess

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Sarah Hess

At the age of six, Sarah Hess discovered True Blue by Madonna. This resulted in her spending hours in front of the bathroom mirror with a hairbrush microphone, belting out "La Isla Bonita" off key. Her love for music only intensified over the years thanks to her parents; her mother exposed Sarah to The Jackson Five and had her hustling to the Bee Gees, while her father would play her albums like 'Pet Sounds' and 'Some Girls' from start to finish, during which he'd lecture on and on about the history of rock & roll. Sarah would eventually stumble upon rap and hip-hop, then punk and alternative, and fall madly in love with Jeff Buckley and film photography.

After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.


You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.

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