Leo Sawikin at Fremont Abbey Arts Center
Walking up the stairs and through the doors, a veil of sound envelops Fremont Abbey Arts Center. Leo Sawikin, alone with his guitar, captivates a mostly seated audience with his seemingly dual voices. For Sawikin, the guitar is more than just a background instrument; he plays it masterfully, an extension of himself and his voice. The beautiful guitar tone, his smooth and precise voice, and the resonant acoustics of the room blend into songs of perfect color and mood that the audience didn't even know they wanted to hear.
The first songs were lighter, setting a mellow tone—mellow but not uninteresting or without energy. Leo's dynamic singing makes the meaningful parts palpable in the air. A fantastic singer, Sawikin's depth is beautifully handled by the venue's acoustics. As the show progressed, he delved deeper. At a certain point, his movements became more fluid and exaggerated, yet not distracting. Coinciding with this, his music grew thicker and warmer, with suspended chords resolving powerfully, bringing the audience home with him. By the end of his performance, the room was filled with a warm, lingering presence, even in silence.
Leo Sawikin is brilliant. He has created something not only beautiful but uniquely his own. His sound is soft, present, and colorful in an unprecedented way, and his songwriting reflects and complements that sound perfectly. His music is multifaceted, suitable for heartbreak, calm drives, feeling confident, or even a summer dinner outside. Listen closely, and then listen from afar—there is a lot to unpack in the music of Leo Sawikin, and you won't want to miss any of it.
If you’re nearby, do your best to catch Leo Sawikin on the second leg of his tour:
https://www.leosawikin.com/tour
June 9 – Asheville, NC at The Grey Eagle, 8:00pm
June 10 – Durham, NC at Motorco Music Hall, 8:00pm
June 12 – Richmond, VA at The Tin Pan, 8:00pm
June 13 – Columbia, MD at The Collective Encore, 8:00pm
And check him out on socials: