About sixty people gathered on a Wednesday evening on the southside of Bethlehem to experience something.
They saw it on social media, heard about it from friends or saw the posters displayed for weeks. However they found out, they gathered at National Sokols to see a show that included John Galm, Told Slant, h. pruz and Wyatt Paul Davidick (who performs as Wyatt Paul).
Davidick was playing with a band of five. A rare occurrence for him, but something he hopes to pursue forward.
“The music that I love is very cinematic and orchestral forward,” Davidick explains. “That's something that I've always desired and always admired. In my wildest dreams, there would be a string section. Not just one violin, there would be a horn section, something of that nature.”
Not only was the full band an expansion on the songs Wyatt Paul has been playing for some time, but the setting’s decor truly transformed the interior of National Sokols.
“To do the sheets, to do the projections,” Davidick said, “to use that space, I could never do that. This was (William H.) Travis's idea. You know, we all don't always have the time to make these things happen, and it takes a village to make things happen. And it's pretty much, the mantra is bring people in, welcome people in, and show them a beautiful time, and they will return, and that's the only way you can grow anything.”
The focus seemed to be on creating a unique and genuine musical moment for those gathered. Something they would remember and take away with them.
“It's a community that is open for trying stuff,” Davidick added, “and having ideas and making them come to fruition. That's what you want in a community. That's why I think events and stuff have to be even more special and more meaningful. Just intentional – and I think a lot of people are doing that.”
Wyatt Paul recently released the song “If This Isn’t Real” recorded live in a single session at The Foundry in Bethlehem. It features this very backing band of talented musicians working toward making a regular Wednesday night feel like something more.
“I only really have one song out into the world,” Davidick said, ”which is full band, fully realized as my project right now. Everything that I've been able to do has really only been based off of building and helping build this community. So this show really meant a lot to have the trust of people like Chris (Regec) that are opening up these spaces for an idea like that is, you know, a little ambitious.”
