Sean McConnell’s music is hopeful. His songs express tales of a youth facing the world with courage, optimism, and resilience. It did not take long for McConnell to take over the room at Lightning 100’s Nashville Sunday Night, live at 3rd and Lindsley. His new self-titled album with Rounder Records captures his powerful and incredibly dynamic voice, and is strengthened by profound lyrics.
He is a very accomplished songwriter for other country/folk singers, such as Brad Paisley and David Nail, but ultimately succeeds in delivering his own personal collection. McConnell’s live performance can shift gears at any given moment. His songs can be celebratory and loud, but then dissonant and critical. He ended his set with a solo acoustic rendition of “Old Brown Shoes.” When the radio broadcast ended, he picked up the electric guitar and belted a heavy rock ballad that demonstrated the variability in McConnell’s set. He clearly knows how to show everything in his tool belt, a truly dexterous musician.
