“Ohio is my favorite place to play,” Andy Grammer said through a smile after opening his Ohio University show with the smash hit “Keep your Head Up.”
Grammer kept the crowd on its feet with an hour-long show in the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium on Monday night. Singer-songwriter and industry newcomer, Ivory Layne opened the show at 7:30 p.m.
“All of my dreams are coming true tonight,” said Ivory Layne, who has been opening for various artists all year while crafting her debut album. “They had mentioned opening for (Andy) in the beginning and I was like, there’s no way that’s going to happen and then it got to happen and I’m freaking out.”
Grammer played all of his old and new hits including “Fresh Eyes” and “Fine By Me.” He also utilized an auto-tuned mic along with his regular one to add an electric feel to his cover of Jon Bellion’s “All Time Low,” which he mashed up with The Beatles’ “All You Need is Love” and Zedd and Alessia Cara’s "Stay.”
Throughout the show, Grammer played electric and acoustic guitar along with a brief appearance by a French horn.
In a flannel, jeans and a grey T-shirt with sweat showing through it, Grammer belted out “Holding Out,” a love song about good things coming to those who wait, off his 2014 album Magazines Or Novels.
Grammer also worked several new, unreleased songs into his set, including “Spaceship,” a song he wrote about his newborn daughter while his wife was pregnant with her.
“It’s crazy cause if I’m singing to you, then my mom in heaven is probably singing to me too,” Grammer sang. “We’re making plans, waiting for your spaceship to land.”
“The Good Parts,” the title track from his upcoming third studio album, was also a hit with the crowd.
“Show me where it hurts/show me something real … tell me your story, but don’t leave the good parts out,” Grammer sang after explaining how he hates todays small talk culture, in which no one talks about anything of substance.
“He is so kind,” Layne said of Grammer, “He waited backstage when I was doing sound check and came up to me and complimented me, and that means a lot coming from someone who’s starting out in the industry.”
Grammer closed the show with “Honey, I’m Good.” and the crowd clapped and sang along. He then gave credit to his lead guitarist, keyboardist, bassist and drummer before exiting the stage.
The encore ended on an extended guitar solo from Grammer’s lead guitarist and bassist. After Grammer left the stage, his band threw the set list and drum sticks into the screaming crowd.
Alyssa Kurzener, a sophomore studying nursing, said her favorite part of the show was the finale, when Grammer played “Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah).”
“It’s just an upbeat song; I enjoyed dancing to it … everybody else getting into it,” Kurzener said.
