Ingrid Michaelson Trio – Fitzgerald Theater – St. Paul MN – December 5th 2018

Ingrid Michaelson Trio live at the Fitzgerald Theater.

Each year I depend on music to break me free from Grinch like tendencies and to restore some much needed Holiday spirit. I found the perfect cure and am really feeling it today after seeing the Ingrid Michaelson Trio perform their Songs for the Season show at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, MN.

The evenings supporting act, Jenna Nicholls said that one thing she learned from being on tour with Michaelson was just how much she cares about her fans and making sure they walk away from her live show happy. I can easily buy into this statement and would say her efforts were evident in many ways.

You can sense her fondness of the season in her stage setup, which included white pines with multicolored lights, stockings hung on instruments, gift boxes, an antique phonograph and an abundance of Frazier Fir candles so coveted that she actually serenaded one. Indeed the ambiance was important, but my focus was on the music, which was magnificent.

Michaelson did not hesitate to show off the Trio’s (including Allie Moss and Hannah Winkler) ability playing the first couple songs with minimal accompaniment, allowing the listener to really appreciate their lush harmonies. She offered up a substantial amount of holiday inspired music from the new album and also sprinkled in the required hits often times with a twist.  There was plenty of humor as fans have come to expect, which for me added to the overall experience.

Review and photos by Patrick Dunn