Photo of Noah Cyrus by Pariss Brown
Franklin Jonas and the Byzantines opened for Noah Cyrus Thursday night at Fair St. Clair, the annual county fair held at the Belle-Clair Fairgrounds in Belleville, IL, that features rides, food, and yes, music. It was nostalgic, but fresh. I grew up with the older siblings’ sitcoms (that’d be Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas on Jonas and Miley Cyrus on Hannah Montana), but these younger two re-emerged on my radar a few months ago when they released a duet called “High and Sad.” It was raw, it was gritty, it was…not what I expected while still being comforting like I was waiting for it. I highly recommend a listen if you haven’t heard it.
Franklin Jonas showed up to play music for whoever was there. His crowd work was incredible—his banter was able to resonate throughout a wide range of audience members. At one point he said he was going play a Bonnie Raitt song and I about snapped my neck to make sure I had heard correctly. He proceeded to play a stunning rendition of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” from Raitt’s 1991 album Luck of the Draw. Along with a few other covers he played originals like “Road Soda,” “Break the Levee,” and “Cherub.”
However, my favorite part of the show wasn’t the music. After jumping the stage, sprinting the stadium seats, scaling a wall, Jonas led the cheering crowd back to the stage where he announced he would be at the merch tent. I decided to wander out, and witnessed what makes concerts such a thrill—you never know who you’ll meet. He stayed at the merch tent until he had personally spoken with and signed something for every single person in line. It took well over an hour, it was hot…and I hadn’t just finished running bleachers in jeans. He was overjoyed to do it. His band kneeled to talk to kids; he enthusiastically gushed over a fan’s handmade vest and hat. He took picture after picture. It felt like an homage to the people supporting his music, something he was really invested in and thankful for. I felt pretty good walking back in to catch Noah.
Noah Cyrus is much more pop star, which is true to her brand. Her voice has grit, but her overall sound is more fluid. She was more reserved and purposely aloof in her banter, like a ’90s pop star that would snap her gum while she rolled her eyes…in a hot way. Her discography has a lot of variety. One song has electronic beats with ethereal falsetto runs, while the next is backed only by a simple acoustic guitar melody and a gentle vocal harmony. She is undeniably talented and has resources that talent can’t always secure. It allows her to experiment with different sounds, musicians, and producers. It leads to a discography that is consistently polished regardless of the genre it leans towards. Seeing “High and Sad” live reminds you how long these two artists have been in this space together.
Overall, these childhood friends touring together has enough name recognition to peak interest with enough talent and heart to make it a genuinely good show. | Pariss Brown
