Show Review: Tony Sorrentino, Mojo’s Hot House 3-31-07 [originally posted on Jstreetzine.com, Review and Photos by Sam Gordon]
Walking into Mojoe’s Hot House on Belmont, a small crowd sits in the eclectic setting. Sipping coffee as a dark haired musician sits playing, paying a great homage to the six string making decoration on the brick wall to his left, his voice smooth as the red velvet couch behind him. He plays through three and half minutes of precision, finishing by looking up, smiling at the crowds applause. In as confidant a voice as the one he sings with he jokes that the few seconds after playing a song is a musician’s nightmare, just anticipating whether or not he was well received. But after hearing this twenty year old from Schaumburg, one can assure themselves that he’s never had to worry about such a thing.Tony Sorrentino is a perfect combination of poise, talent, and ingenuity that makes up what should be the acoustic artist. Having played in bands before, Sorrentino has been going it alone, and doing so successfully. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Tony play multiple shows now, and I must say that I’m never disappointed. Each time I catch him at a show is like seeing him for the first time, his voice is just one of those that I listen to, and as a result put a hand over my heart and sigh. Growing up in a musical household, Sorrentino says that he’s been singing as long as he can remember, and along with video taped evidence of him belting out church songs as a toddler, it’s not hard to believe now. Completely aware of the chemistry of his voice, where it works and where it doesn’t, you can tell he’s developed a very close, personal relationship with his vocal chords. Recorded he sings just like what you’d want to pay money for, but live performance is where he makes his mark. Knowing when to back off of his microphone and when to choke up on a note makes his professionalism and knowledge of his craft even more apparent. A lot of musicians as young as he is, and even some quite a bit older have yet to master such a knowledge of their own physical being.Along with his natural talent as a singer, Sorrentino has developed his guitar ability wonderfully, picking it up again six years ago after pushing the instrument back at a younger age. Having studied his instrument he’s able to produce clean and solid melodies that transition as smoothly as his voice. Listening to a song written by Tony Sorrentino is like reading a written story. He’s picked up the ability to spell things out and be entirely cryptic at the same time, making your ears your eyes. It seems as though he treats words themselves as music notes, giving each verse syncopation, as well as making notes words, giving them a direct purpose in his songs. Lyrically he uses a strong vocabulary that just exudes intelligence, a characteristic he conveys in his personality and performance as well.Never anxious for a set to be over, and able to play through a time frame with his head in place, his performances are never rushed, nothing but natural. Going on stage with a mental set list, he plays what feels right, usually without being wrong. Allowing his voice and guitar to go out strong in songs like So Long, and Keep in Touch, he also shows his ability to pull back with Open my Veins, an instrumentally simple song that his voice carries beautifully.Over all he posses a certain chemistry in his music and being that makes him any A&R representatives dream. Charismatic, genuine, and gifted I only wish I had a record label ready to sign Sorrentino, because I can guarantee his is a name we’ll be hearing often.
Tags: Artist Review
