When I first caught Lawrence during CMJ in 2015, it was a completely chance encounter. I was hanging out in Webster Hall and wandering between floors capturing various bands. I wasn’t sticking around for entire sets for the most part until I went downstairs and saw the youthful Lawrence. Led by brother and sister Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, the band’s soulful sound hooked me. I didn’t get a chance to see them again until well into 2016 and by this point the group had finished recording and had just released their debut album Breakfast (streaming below) which was produced by Eric Krasno (of Soullive). So I got a chance to familiarize myself with the album and, enticed by what I heard, I looked forward to the homecoming show for the New York based group.
At Rockwood, the siblings, plus their band of six other musicians including three brass or woodwind players, had tons of friends, family and fans in tow for a sold-out sweaty show during which they were treated to a soulful course of Breakfast. Including Breakfast songs, Lawrence also performed a few energetic covers, including Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name” and The Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back”, that were enhanced by the powerful horns and Gracie’s dynamic vocals. The band closed out their set with an encore of “Me & You”, a song whose funky rhythm possesses the confident strut of a classic ’70s funk anthem. There’s a lot to look forward to from Lawrence and for the band who will be heading out to draw in more listeners this summer at Bonnaroo.
