Vincent Mason… the loverboy you are! The 25-year-old singer’s live performance at Irving Plaza in New York City was a lesson to the genre on songwriting and the feeling of a heart fluttering.
Country music‘s recent trajectory has been a bit strained. In today’s world, too many singers are popping on a cowboy hat and laying on a faux accent, hoping to capitalize on a cult-genre following of fans. As for the listeners, they’re going blind and numb as they let just any poser win them over out of sheer desperation for music that fills the nostalgia in their minds. The younger generation is demanding country, and they’re also craving that sense of community that comes from a fandom forged early. Unfortunately, they’re often willing to throw quality and genuine songwriting to the side in favor of mainstream success and the feeling of being a part of something early. Everyone wants in on the “next big thing;” not everyone has the patience it takes to find the sort of artist with the talent to make it there organically.
Thankfully, with Vincent Mason, fans don’t have to forfeit anything. The heartthrob proved he’s committed to quality music and carefree performance as evidenced by the sense of calm that rushed through the audience during his set… and there’s no doubt that his audience will only continue to grow.
Vincent brought a sense of serenity to the music hall, and his standout track was obviously “Don’t Ask Me,” which was a stellar example of the storytelling that makes country music great. The principled practice of country music has always been about having something authentic to say; whether that be commentary on the working class or a simple tale of heartbreak. In “Don’t Ask Me,” Vincent steers listeners through a story without spoon-feeding them the plot.
“So don’t ask me how I’m doin’ / Don’t ask me how I’ve been / Don’t ask about those empty cans / Rollin’ around in my truck bed / I left ‘em there when she left / I put us out like a cigarette / If you wanna know where good things go /When you leave, don’t ask me”
The song’s chorus live was the moment in the show where I was sold on the country heartthrob. After all, it wasn’t just the catchy tune or the natural writing, but also about Vincent’s public yearning as he performed a song that resonated so well with his audience. He’s clearly a loverboy and isn’t afraid if the world knows it. From the lyrics to the passion, anyone in the room could feel his shattered heart and the love he hoped to hold one day.
We haven’t seen this sort of devotion to love and affection in country since the golden days of Taylor Swift. After all, his song “Speak of the Devil” was the sort of track that could of easily been featured on “Speak Now.”
Clearly, I was late to the Vincent Mason party, too. The audience was locked in on the stories the young star had to tell. Their attention was clocked to him from the moment he step foot on the stage. The environment Vincent created wasn’t party-filled or dance-ready, but rather it was a bubble of safety and understanding — a room for those hell-bent on romance to not feel so alone. Vincent’s audience was full of those far too familiar with the sound a heart makes when it breaks.
Everyone at Irving was in on a little secret: Vincent is the star to watch in the genre. After all, he already knows how to command a stadium, making the tiny stage a tad too snug for him. He previously opened for Morgan Wallen, putting him in a position to take the reigns of country music soon enough. It’s only a matter of time that Vincent becomes the center of the genre’s attention.
I, for one, think reintroducing sad-boy songwriting into the major leagues of country is absolutely refreshing.
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