By: Kate Turnbull
On Friday, January 26th, 2024, my friends and I hopped on the RamVan and headed over to Lincoln Center to attend the Campus Activities Board Winterfest concert, headlined by Ricky Montgomery. We arrived at Pope Auditorium and headed inside to watch the show. The auditorium sported a sizable stage that fit the room well and had both seats and standing room. Refreshments, including lemonade and water, were offered. Upon entering the room, my friends and I took to the seats to rest our legs and prepare for the excitement ahead. We had a great view of the stage, even while sitting. The crowd was slowly building, but it felt and looked a little bit like a middle school dance, with small, circular tables in the back and students standing around awkwardly.
About thirty minutes after we arrived, the first opener, Renee Majé, took the stage. She is a Fordham student with a beautiful voice and sang a mix of original songs and covers. I would consider her genre “indie,” as she compared a few of her songs and covers to works by artists like Willow Smith and Steve Lacy. The crowd clapped along with the beat of her music as she sang her heart out for a little over twenty minutes. After Renee’s set, there was a performance by Zephyr, a band of Fordham students who often play at Rod’s Coffee House. The band came on stage and began to scream into the microphone, startling everyone in the audience. My friends and I looked at each other in surprise and confusion. After a few seconds, the screaming stopped, and Zephyr quickly switched up their sound and began playing one of their songs. The beat paired well with the screaming, but it was tamer and much more pleasant to the ear. I would describe their music as punk-rock; it was very unique and unlike the music I typically listen to. I’m sure many love the intense music style but it wasn’t my taste, so I was happy when their set was over and it was time for Ricky to take the stage.
Finally, the lights went down, and Ricky Montgomery and his band, nicknamed “The Rickys,” ran on stage. Montgomery, an LA native, had two songs go viral on TikTok in 2020 titled “Mr. Loverman” and “Line without a Hook.” Since then, his music career has taken off. Ricky played a quick, 40-minute set consisting of a variety of his songs, both old and new. In the middle of the show, he played an acoustic set with just a guitar and his backup singer. The Fordham audience also got a very special performance of his new song, “It’s Ok to Cry.” It was the first time he had ever played it live or even out loud to his band. He was nervous, and it took him a few minutes to get it right and figure out the sound, but he ended up gaining confidence and sounding amazing. It was a beautiful song and a very intimate, special moment. The show ended with what Ricky and his band members called the “holy trinity.” This trinity consisted of three songs, “Out Like a Light,” “This December,” and “Mr. Loverman,” that fit together perfectly and ended the show on a thrilling high.
I had a great time at the show and am so glad I went. With tickets being sold for only $5, I had little to no expectations going into the show. I ended up being very pleased with the show’s intimacy. I was also impressed with Ricky Montgomery’s captivating stage presence and incredible voice. There was plenty of room to move around and watch the show up close and from different angles in the auditorium, and I loved how Ricky could see the audience and speak directly to people in the crowd. I was less pleased with the concert etiquette of some audience members; there was a lot of chatter between songs, while Ricky was talking, and during his slower songs. It is important to respect the performers, even if you do not know the song being sung!
Overall, Winterfest at Lincoln Center was a huge success and a fun, unique experience. I didn’t know much about Ricky Montgomery and had never heard the openers perform, so it was great to immerse myself in new music and hear talented performers live. I now consider myself a Ricky Montgomery fan and have listened to his music consistently since the show. Next time a cheap concert is held at Fordham, take the chance and go! You never know what the show will be like. You may get to experience a special moment that wouldn’t happen at a bigger venue, like Ricky playing his new song to us for the first time.
Link to setlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6I58o4ru2OLSqIGHqLp1Cb?si=14cf9238acce4ee4
