Still Woozy and Michelle Deliver an Unforgettable Night in St. Pete

On August 21, Jannus Live simmered with another evening of eclectic and engaging music out of St. Pete, Florida: Still Woozy—with special guest Michelle on the bill—adding another dimension to the already dynamic pairing.

Michelle

First to the stage was New York-based indie pop collective Michelle, who immediately set the bar high for the evening with their energetically vibrant set. The performance was a tad arty rhythm and blues, and a bit of pop with a touch of soul, genre-blending with coolness. Performing a combination of their standout tracks, such as “Syncopate” and “FYO,” brought forth deep relatability with the audience.

She managed to conjure up an interesting texture of the sound, rich with the support of Michelle on multi-vocals and a challenging delivery on stage; the energy extended into the crowd. Harmonies and rhythmic articulation combined to deliver an arresting set that would be the cornerstone of the night. Michelle commanded the stage—yes, with conviction and charisma—impressively and warmed up the crowd for the main act even if she was the opener.

Still Woozy

Opening the night had been practically an alteration of space, as Sven Gamsky’s solo project, Still Woozy, emanated far out and in some way unifying vibrations under his mix of indie pop, R&B, and psychedelic funk. And kicking off the real headliner: Still Woozy, the one-man show of Sven Gamsky. On the stage, he proved to be a master of creating an immersive ambience. For added context, one could say that the venue built into the hub of stores, restaurants, and apartment buildings was the perfect setting for the Still Woozy show, even if that cannot completely rationalize the two-night stint there.

With his falsetto voice and eclectic beats, he was belting out tracks such as “Goodie Bag” and “Habit,” he had the huge crowd in the palm of his hands from the second he grabbed the microphone. He was able to craft these insanely infectious grooves that are only spiked further with his introspective lyrics, which make them more appealing. It was a ride through his very distinct sound, incorporating something new with every song to the laid-back and enchanting atmosphere. The rooftop was packed in a way that lots came out of their apartment buildings and on their balconies, even up the roof, to watch and dance with Still Woozy and his crew.

And that’s how we could say that Still Woozy’s interaction with his live band was fine-tuned, amazing, and so coherent. Even one or two comic bits are thrown in there to make the crowd laugh and dance along. The expertly and loosely engaged crowd swayed and sang to the tunes emanating from the stage. Still, Woozy’s relaxed stage presence and vibrant energy in his music made his show an experience of a lifetime, coming to a perfect close.

Performing at Jannus Live, the concert was an interesting amalgamation of the high-spirited soul vibes from Michelle and the genre-blended, cooled energy of Still Woozy. Also, the small venue allowed the mentioned artists to create some magic with the audience. It was a pretty solid start for Michelle, and the headlining performance that Still Woozy went on to give was arresting in a way nothing else was, thereby creating a standout night of music that resonated with fans of both artists, keeping the interest up long after the final note quieted down.

Photo’s (c) Ryan McCormick