On Thursday, Feb. 10, CAB hosted an acoustic concert with Adam Melchor, a folk singer-songwriter from New Jersey. Photo courtesy of Bandsintown News.
On Thursday, Feb. 10, CAB hosted an acoustic concert with Adam Melchor, a folk singer-songwriter from New Jersey. At 8 p.m. he walked onstage, guitar in hand, greeted by a spirited crowd of Hamilton students and a few superfans from out of town. People sat at every table in the Events Barn and piled onto the balcony upstairs once the tables were all full. As soon as the lights dimmed, all eyes were on Melchor, who wore a soft patterned sweater and classy black shoes.
Melchor wanted the audience to connect to his music on a personal level, so he conversed with the crowd between songs, revealing the meaning behind lyrics and weaving in funny anecdotes from his childhood. The audience learned a few important facts about his personal life, including his love of hazelnut creamer and his dad’s Ecuadorian roots. He played upwards of six songs, a few of which were unreleased. Audience favorites were “Real Estate,” “Last Time,” “I Choose You” and “Joyride,” a song about letting go that was partially inspired by his parents’ polite, drama-free divorce. Students who already knew of his music quietly sang along, and everyone else checked out his Spotify page under the table.
Prior to the concert, students lined up outside the Events Barn, patiently waiting for the doors to open at 7:30 p.m. CAB gave out pastries from Toast, hot chocolate and FebFest swag like hats, mugs, and stickers. They had a limited amount of swag but endless FebFest themed stickers and raffle tickets. Each audience member was entered into a raffle to win one of three posters signed by Melchor or one of two mugs from Clinton Pottery.
Melchor accrued a large fanbase via his YouTube channel. Photo courtesy of Youtube.
After the performance, a swarm of students stayed behind in hopes of meeting their newest celebrity crush. Melchor did not disappoint, charming fans with his humor and shaggy, rockstar hairstyle. He took photos with everyone, even those who insisted on using .5 zoom. A few students suggested that he pursue standup comedy because the audience loved his between-song stories. Melchor explained that he told lighthearted anecdotes to lighten the mood after playing such powerful, emotive songs. He also talked about his outfit of choice, claiming that he hadn’t taken off his sweater since purchasing it the week before, and he invited students to feel how soft it was. It was indeed very soft.
Adam Melchor grew up in a musically talented family and earned a Bachelor’s degree in opera, but he quickly switched paths to indie-folk-pop music after graduation. In addition to being a singer-songwriter, he produces music videos and runs a Lullaby Hotline. Melchor directed and produced music videos for his three singles, “Joyride,” “I Choose You” and “Metadata,” all of which he sang at the CAB performance. Fans can reach his Lullaby Hotline by texting the phone number in his Instagram bio, which sends a dreamy song every Sunday at 8 p.m. to start the week on the right note. The lullabies are recordings of Melchor’s lo-fi covers and originals, and come with an encouraging message underneath. Melchor had a humble start, recording demos in his room and playing at local bars, but the 28 year old is now a well-known musician with millions of listeners. If you are heartbroken or contemplating your purpose in life, Melchor is your guy. He will sing you to sleep and make all your worries disappear, especially if you are running out of real estate.