Review – Sammy Rae & The Friends

Written by wmscweb on November 12, 2024

Written by Shannon Daly

Published on November 12, 2024

NEW YORK CITY, NY– Describing Sammy Rae and The Friends as a “fusion” band is the perfect way to define Brooklyn-bred Sammy Rae and the Friends.

When I saw Sammy Rae & The Friends for the third time on November 8, I realized that Sammy Rae might just be the best live-vocalist of our generation living right under people’s noses. But for those who already know Sammy Rae, the seven-piece group has been teasing their first album, ‘Something for Everybody’ for over six years now. With two EPs and a live album already on the books, followers since “The Good Life” have been blessed with years of touring even without a full length album. Despite this, their current tour is already their fourth national tour.

The reason for the high demand for their tours is blatantly obvious: Sammy Rae’s breathtaking energy and unity. There are many high-energy artists that can capture a stage and demand attention, but they fail at creating a community. There is never a moment during a Friends show where negativity is spewed, not even as a joke. The messages they convey about positivity and being unapologetically kind to your neighbors is something that you don’t often see today. The community of these shows, and the way Sammy Rae translates this from the stage makes her uniquely special from other artists. In a world where people are pitted against each other for the sake of entertainment, political beliefs, or otherwise, to accept the love from those around you is a message a lot of people need to hear.

Returning to Terminal 5 for the first time since 2022, New York was ready with open arms to welcome Sammy home. Highlights of the night included the classic (and my favorite) “Jackie Onasis”, “Cool Doug, at Night” (bring back disco!), and of course, “Coming Home Song” (which Sammy admitted she was most excited to sing for New York for the first time).

What makes Sammy so entertaining to watch, is that no two live renditions of any song ever sounds the same. It’s not that Sammy Rae attempts to change up the articulation of her music to confuse fans (or annoy, like Alex Turner), it’s that the emotion of each lyric she brings to life is always sung with her full heart. She never sounds bored and it is incredibly refreshing to see an artist love their new songs with just as much soul as their classics.

I had the opportunity to stop by Sammy Rae’s dressing room before the show to get her insight into how the 2024 Debut Album Release Tour has changed the band, the influences behind Something For Everybody and how Sammy hopes her shows impact those who need love and acceptance even in the face of today’s fear and adversity. Listen to the interview here.

Set List (November 8th, 2024 at Terminal 5)

Friends Intro
Thieves
The Feeling
We Made it
Jackie Onasis
Cool Doug, At Night
No Rulebook
I Get it Now
David
Call Ya Back
Good Time Tavern
Luck of the Draw
Good Life Medley