Levi Kreis and Eric Himan at the Walnut Room

My friend Tom and I went to go see Levi Kreis and Eric Himan at the Walnut Room in Denver on Tuesday.

I’ve been following Levi and Eric on the internet for years now but I never thought I’d ever get to see them in person. Well I visited Levi’s site after being away for a while and discovered that Levi and Eric were touring with each other and both would be coming to Denver! I was very excited and bought tickets immediately.

The Walnut Room performance space is small and intimate and there wasn’t a large crowd (20, Tom?).  How ever Levi and Eric may have felt about the small crowd they gave us a GREAT show. They sang, they talked to us and we talked back – it was great fun!  It was Eric’s birthday and someone brought out a birthday cake and we all sang Happy Birthday to him.

Levi’s arms were straining at the keys – Eric breaking picks and strings – Their voices bursting from their bodies. For me, catching creative talent in the act of creation, I always feel like I do when I round a corner in the forest and catch a glimpse of some grand animal gracefully moving in the dappled light. I am mesmerized. There is something so vital about the experience. I catch myself with my mouth open. Sometimes with tears rolling down my cheeks.

Afterward I was talking Levi and Eric and told them how happy I was that they came to Denver. And yes, they are both warm, beautiful men. I’m gonna send Eric a pack of new picks.

Driving home I was looking up into the heart of Orion and thought (as I often do) that in their cores at that very moment the stars were converting the very breath of creation into light.  It seemed to me that in the hearts of these artists something just as primal was going on – turning the breath of their lives into song.  And as surely as the light of the Sun warms, I felt illuminated by their voices. And on this one night, of course, they were much closer than the stars.

Comments

[Thomas Zamborellius]

Actually, Dr. Beene, I counted 35 persons in attendance, including one very handsome thirtysomething guy front and center (you know the one), who appeared to be the partner of the concert promoter, and a freaking GORGEOUS young man (yes, the one I couldn't stop looking back at). In fact, it seemed as though Eric knew him, referring to him by name and even asking him for the lyrics to a song he forgot. Thirty-five was a disappointing crowd, considering the quality of both performances. Let's hope the next time Levi and Eric come to Colorado, they play to a larger crowd! ~ Tom