Ray LaMontagne has a raw, earthen quality about him. It’s been more than a decade since his hit debut, “Trouble,” and his raspy, baritone croon is still so familiar. Earlier this year, LaMontagne released “Ouroboros,” his dreamy and etheric sixth album, with a dip into synths and electronics, and backing vocals by Jim James of My Morning Jacket. The Arcs will also perform.
Ray LaMontagne plays Saturday, July 23, at CMAC, 3355 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua. 7 p.m. $40-$75. cmacevents.com; raylamontagne.com.
This article appears in Jul 20-26, 2016.
We are fans and went to the last Ray Lamontagne concert at CMAC. That is where we finally decided that we will not go to any more concerts at CMAC. Bigger did not make it better.
The constant stream of people to and from the bathroom and the bar (connection there?); the drunks howling (for Ray Lamontagne?); the loud talking all around as if nobody actually came to hear the music. CMAC is a big social drinking event and the only people that really get to enjoy the music are in the first 40 rows. Once you get behind the first causeway it’s all chatter, drunks, mobile phone photographers and annoyance.
Buy the CDs and listen to them where you can enjoy them. CMAC and big tours are just money grabs.