Thoughts on Charlie Burg’s Impromptu NYC Concert
For those of you who don’t know this about me, I am a huge fan of NYC-based singer/songwriter Charlie Burg and his music. Throughout the years, his artistry has become a topic of conversation on many occasions amongst my close circle of friends. The self-reflective ways in which he talks about his past relationships in his songs constantly reminds me of the often-overlooked necessities of accountability and hope for growth at any stage in our lives. At the same time, simply the vibe of his music can make you feel good walking down the street. One of my favorite practices of his is an occasional mass email he sends out to fans, which often highlights his own experience with maintaining a healthy relationship with artistic and personal growth. He is an artist that feels accessible and human, which I admire immensely. My friend Colin and I share these sentiments and have made a point of attending as many concerts of his as geographically and financially possible. The most recent opportunity came in the form of a cheap, impromptu concert he held at an intimate speakeasy in Manhattan’s lower east side - an opportunity we jumped on immediately.
At the beginning of the show, which was attended by close friends and committed fans of his that packed the tiny venue, Charlie announced that this was a “practice session” for him and the band before they hit the road for their upcoming tour. However, despite Charlie accidentally getting a bloody finger, yelling “That’s rock and roll!”, then politely asking for a Band-Aid, everything ran smoothly. Both old and new songs were performed with an infectious energy that kept me on my toes throughout the night. In his stylish and slightly androgynous outfit accompanied by two distinct necklaces – the Star of David and Hello Kitty – it was fun to see him revel in the fact that he and his band were playing a lot of his previous content live that he couldn’t play solo while on tour a few years back.
The concert happened only days after he released his newest single “97 Avalon”, which has a guitar solo at the end with a sound of mastery and precision previously unrecognized in his other songs. He divulged to the audience that night that he wrote that specific guitar solo for himself and took a 3-year hiatus from his solo career to better his guitar skills and to “be able to play like Prince” – and it was clear to everyone that he achieved just that. This level of dedication to craft is something I admire and continue to strive for in my own ways, so it was amazing to see how excited he was to share his progression with us.
Although his music was always amazing, I resonate with the words of an audience member behind me that I overheard: “Charlie’s leveled-up.”
Listen to Charlie’s music here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0ubGY2CcC0tvR0eE6hJaT8?si=ks_64x9DQ8eo2aQgfsqBtQ
