by Norm De Veyra
Overflowing charisma, powerful vocals, and a fair amount of glitter marked the impressive San Francisco headlining debut for Jake Wesley Rogers last weekend.
The Nashville-based, singer-songwriter burst onto the Bimbo’s stage, sporting a sunburst yellow tulle-line jumpsuit and matching glasses, to kick off the evening in energetic fashion with “Middle of Love” off 2021’s Pluto EP.
“Look at us showing up to the funeral/ With conversation that’s way too colorful/ Almost broke up over spilled milk waterfall/ Blame it on the moon,” cooed Rogers about the tensions of a particular relationship. “Why’s everything so hard?/ I’m in the middle of love!” he then declared over a driving beat. The crowd enthusiastically joined in unison.
Strolling over to the piano on stage Rogers quickly segued into ‘Lavender Forever’ from last year’s Love EP. A rousing singalong followed with Rogers hopping on top of his stool to pound away on the keys.
It’s these foot-stomping anthems performed with immense theatrically and showmanship that are Rogers’s winning formula. I counted three costume changes, a couple of capes, and a round of Truth of Dare for the hour and half set. The crowd ate up all of this playfulness. Yet, it’s the quieter moments that allowed Rogers’s talent for intimate and vulnerable songwriting to shine.
His performance of “Jacob from the Bible” was a particular highlight that came midway through the evening. “Mama, don’t worry/ It took me years/ To say I’m sorry/ To see your tears” stated the singer in “conversation” with his mother.
“I don’t wanna be held down by a heavenly man/ Mama, help me carry on/ They call me wrong/ You call me strong/ But I’m not Jacob from the Bible,” Rogers bellowed as the song swelled to its rapturous conclusion. As a single spotlight illuminated the performer on stage the crowd watched, teary eyed, in silence.
It’s a wonder to consider this is Rogers’s first headlining tour. His stage style and swagger is a welcome throwback to folks like Elton John and David Bowie, a comparison I heard many times that night while waiting in the crowd. That is certainly high praise (and pressure) for the young performer, with a full length album still in the works, but judging by this San Francisco show he’s definitely got the well of experiences to draw from and the skills to impress and reach those legendary heights.
Jake Wesley Rogers continues touring the US, with Stacey Ryan opening, through April.
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