Recap: Lawrence @ Empire State Plaza, 7/15/2026

By Charla Earney.

The Jackson 5? Funk? R&B? Pop? Jazz? 

The answer is yes.

Lawrence refuses to fit neatly into a single genre. One minute you hear echoes of Stevie Wonder and Motown, the next you’re knee-deep in funk, soul, jazz arrangements, and enough pop hooks to keep the whole crowd singing. Labels become meaningless once they take the stage.

Founded by siblings Clyde and Gracie Lawrence, the New York City-based, eight-piece band isn’t simply fronted by a brother and sister; it operates as a true ensemble. Every musician matters. Every horn line, every rhythm, every harmony serves the song. And every one of them came to play that day! I didn’t plan on dancing. The first few songs convinced me I wasn’t going to have a choice. Unlike many bands that explode overnight, Lawrence built their following the hard way. They toured relentlessly, played clubs and theaters across the country, and released their now-famous “acoustic-ish” videos: one-take performances that showcased musicianship instead of studio tricks. Their persistence paid off. 

Their 2024 album “Family Business” became their breakthrough, with “Whatcha Want” climbing into the U.S. Top 40. Since then, they’ve toured internationally, appeared on national television, and, as Gracie proudly announced early in the evening, recently received a Grammy nomination. Judging by what I witnessed Wednesday night, none of that came as a surprise.

The weather deserved a paragraph of its own.

The day had been classic upstate New York: hot, humid, sticky enough to keep most people hiding indoors. But as evening settled over the Hudson, the breeze rolled in off the river as though it had been hired for the event. It cooled the crowd at exactly the right moments and turned what could have been an uncomfortable evening into one of those perfect summer nights you’ll remember long after the music fades.

For a weekday crowd, the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza drew an impressive turnout. Plenty of people clearly decided the weather was worth gambling on. They won. Gracie Lawrence wasted absolutely no time introducing herself. She opened the show swinging. For someone so petite, the amount of power that came out of her seemed almost impossible. Her voice wasn’t simply loud; it was controlled, clean, and packed with emotion. It reminded me of that unforgettable scene in “Sister Act” when the quiet, unassuming nun suddenly opens her mouth and reveals a voice capable of rattling the entire church. That was Gracie. Tiny frame. Massive voice. She wore a dark pleated mini skirt, a bright red halter top, matching red socks, Mary Jane shoes, and twin French braids that completed a look that was playful without compromising confidence. When she picked up the tambourine, it became another extension of her personality. Every movement looked intentional. Every note landed.

Then came Clyde.

After hearing Gracie command the stage so completely, I wondered if her brother could possibly match that energy. He didn’t imitate it. He complemented her, and at different moments it soared over. His voice is remarkably clean, warm, effortless, and remarkably expressive. Sitting behind the piano for nearly the entire show, he somehow managed to lead the band without ever appearing to work at it. When he and Gracie sang together, their harmonies became so rich and full that, more than once, I found myself listening closely just to appreciate how perfectly their voices blended. It wasn’t gospel. But it had that same joyful spirit.

The visual presentation of the band reflected the same professionalism. Clyde stood out in a yellow T-shirt and white cap while the rest of the band wore coordinated white shirts and tan pants. It wasn’t flashy. It simply reinforced the idea that everyone belonged to the same team. No egos. Just eight musicians pulling in the same direction.

The heartbeat of the evening came from drummer Sam Askin. Good drummers keep time. Great drummers make you forget you’re listening to one. Sam did both. His precision drove every song forward while somehow making each groove feel effortless. I caught myself ignoring my aching feet because they refused to stop moving. Every drum solo left me disappointed, not because it wasn’t good enough, but because I wanted it to keep going. I wasn’t ready for it to end.

Bassist Michael Karsh occupied what I always call “the space in between.” The bass isn’t always the instrument people notice first, but remove it, and everything falls apart. Michael supplied the depth, attitude, and pulse that allowed every other musician to shine. Locked in with Sam, the rhythm section created a foundation that made the entire band feel unstoppable.

Guitarist Jonny Koh had moments that absolutely caught fire. His playing was tasteful when it needed to be and explosive when the songs demanded it. Several solos brought huge cheers from the audience, and his stage presence matched the infectious energy pouring off the rest of the band.

The horn section deserves its own standing ovation. Jordan Cohen on tenor saxophone, Sumner Becker on alto saxophone, and Marc Langer on trumpet didn’t simply fill musical space; they became characters in every song. Marc, especially, seemed determined to steal the spotlight whenever he stepped forward. Mission accomplished. His interaction with the audience made every trumpet entrance feel like an event, while the saxophones layered warmth and excitement into arrangements already overflowing with personality. Together they transformed songs into celebrations.

One thing became increasingly obvious as the evening went on. I could understand every lyric. Every instrument had room to breathe. The vocals were crystal clear. The mix was balanced. There wasn’t a single moment where the sound distracted from the performance. Whoever handles front-of-house audio deserves enormous credit. Great live sound often goes unnoticed because everything simply works. This was one of those nights.

The band leaned heavily on original material while sprinkling in a few carefully chosen covers. One highlight was their tribute to the Beatles, inspired by their recent performance in Liverpool, the city where the Fab Four began their legendary journey. 

Listening to Lawrence reinterpreting Beatles music with an eight-piece lineup was fascinating. Their arrangements added an entirely different level of color and movement while still respecting the originals. I couldn’t help wishing I had been in Liverpool to hear it there.

Would I see Lawrence again? Oh, hell yes. In fact, I’d go out of my way too. Some concerts entertain you. Others remind you why live music matters. Lawrence displayed the latter.