Standing in an old schoolhouse gym, Brenn! performed to an energetic crowd in Cleveland at the Beachland Ballroom. The singer-songwriter took the audience on a journey, from heartbreak to mistakes, on April 16.
From Alabama, Brenn!, or Brennan Keller, is a folk artist that blends his faith and experiences into a unique sound that the Cleveland community at Beachland Ballroom enjoyed. He played a variety of his songs, ranging from old tracks like “Jesus Song (County Line)” to recent singles such as “Footing.” Many fans sang along and built connections together inside the intimate venue. Brenn! told the crowd he was happily surprised by their enthusiasm throughout the set.
Not only did Brenn!’s fans sing along and feel moved by the music, but his band was visibly enjoying the music and had a strong stage presence. Hunter Strasser, Baily Johnstone and Estevan Barrientez, on guitar, bass and drums respectively, were enjoying the music just as much as the crowd. Each of their personalities were able to shine through as they played the set and they all had great chemistry on stage as well. This was best shown with some of Strasser’s guitar solos.
Brenn! often stopped to chat with the crowd while changing guitars, which helped him to connect with the audience on a deeper level. He talked to an audience member about where to get coffee, pleaded with the front row to squash a bug that had startled him on stage and sympathized with the crowd about Cleveland’s hatred towards Michigan sports.
When he mentioned inside jokes like Michigan, he understood and delivered them in a way that resonated with the Cleveland crowd, relating the tension to his own hometown’s rivalry with Auburn. It was impressive for someone all the way from Alabama to use references like that so effectively. Without these genuine interactions, the set would have felt disconnected, but Brenn! was able to keep the audience engaged and feel like it was a group of friends having a late night chat.
The performance began with opener Hudson Ingram, who is another singer-songwriter from the South. With his frequent collaborator Ronin Kiekbusch, he performed many songs from his new project that he announced will be released soon, but also played some of his popular tracks including “Baby Just Be.”
His music was emotional and raw, often reflecting his emotions after leaving his hometown in Texas to live in Tennessee as he pursued music. Ingram’s self-deprecating humor and showing of appreciation to the audience and Kiekbusch made him an instant fan favorite and a truly relatable presence on stage. He fit well into Brenn!’s style, but allowed himself to be unique and leave a lasting impression on the crowd.
Ingram was not the only one who announced his new music that is releasing soon. During the middle of Brenn!’s set, he announced his upcoming album titled “Amateur at Best” which will be released in the upcoming months. This is a project that Brenn! produced by himself and the announcement excited many fans. It was definitely a night to remember and one that many fans will never forget.
