We experienced an evening of musical magic thanks to the phenomenal talents of Jon Torrence and friends at the Bloom Room in Blissfield.
Jon Torrence at The Bloom Room in Blissfield
On Friday morning, Brenda said, “Hey, how about checking out Jon Torrence at the Bloom Room?” I had to think about that for a second. Not because of Jon Torrence. I’m game for any chance to listen to Jon Torrence. No, I momentarily couldn’t figure out where The Bloom Room was. Brenda, sensing my confusion, said, “Remember that space next to Four Keys Brewing?”
Right, The Bloom Room!! It is an event space attached to The Starling Lounge and Four Keys Brewing. During my birthday beer adventure, we stopped by Four Keys Brewing, and Ben (co-owner and brewer) showed me the room, but we didn’t really get a chance to check it out. The layout is very open with a variety of seating options, including some cool retro furniture. There is even a row of theater seats. While you can rent the room for private parties, it also acts as the perfect listening room.
The Magic of Jon Torrence
We arrived early and snagged some seats on the couch just off the corner of the stage as Jon was finishing his setup. Within a few moments of him starting to play, people flowed into the Bloom Room to find a seat. An evening of magical music proceeded to unfold.
Having had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Jon at GIG, Manchester Underground, and Leon Loft, I thought I knew what to expect—an exquisite voice accompanied by masterful guitar. What we experienced was yet another level of awesome.
Jon shared some of his original music, including the vibrantly evocative “Lights Out” as well as the heart-rending “David’s Song.” These beautiful songs are full of vitality and resonance. I couldn’t help but smile and feel full of joy as I listened to Jon’s music.
Where this performance differed from other times I’ve witnessed Jon Torrence was in the covers he played. Given the longer set length, Jon added a variety of covers. Instead of carbon copies of the originals, Jon made each song his own. On “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John, he used jazzy chord voicings for a smooth and funky rendering. With “Wish You Were Here” by Pink Floyd, his voice and guitar echoed Floyd’s spirit, yet it felt as though it were a song written by Jon.
To leave us spellbound, Jon mashed up “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes, and “Toxic” by Britney Spears. By layering vocals and guitar within loops and adding beatboxing, Jon transformed the ordinary into extraordinary. If this isn’t magic, I don’t know what is.
Jon’s Friends: The Next Generation
In between sets, Reese Forche took the stage to perform a couple of songs. Her performance was fabulous. Her voice was soothing and strong, while her guitar playing was steady and sure. For a high school student, Reese is already an accomplished musician and vocalist.
Toward the end of Jon’s set, he invited one of his former students, Ella, to join him. Again, I was floored by the talent of someone who is only in middle school. Ella has a powerful voice for one so young. She had excellent stage presence, and her confidence was clear.
It is great to see these remarkable young people excelling in music. Be on the lookout for each of these gifted artists, as there is no limit to their potential.
Pictures
We’ve got more photos from Jon Torrence at The Bloom Room in Blissfield in our gallery.
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