2015.12.01 :: Brett Dennen :: Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas

Words by Chris Bitonti Photos courtesy of Cerissa Lopez

The Las Vegas welcome wagon rolled out once again for folk-pop songsmith Brett Dennen. Tuesday evening’s performance also marked Dennen’s second-ever headlining appearance in the city, and we’ve been lucky enough to host both at the Bowl.

Now a seasoned veteran of the road, Dennen has carved an artistic niche out for himself, crafting soulful, catchy tunes with meaningful composition. In contrast to his recorded work, Dennen’s live performance shifts the focus more onto the band’s musicianship. Crisp guitar leads wrap around rock-steady beats while Dennen’s voice cuts cleanly through the noise, clear and bright enough to carry each song. The band’s simple setup of two guitars, piano, bass, and drums creates a full, rich sound while still leaving space to let individual instruments soar when necessary.

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Dennen’s feel-good set featured forever-young-favorites like “Wild Child,” “Comeback Kid,” and “Ain’t No Reason,” and pulled heavily from his two most recent albums: 2013’s Smoke and Mirrors and 2011’s Loverboy. It is no surprise that Dennen has risen above a crowded folk-pop landscape to reach the top-tier acts within the genre.

Fans enthusiastically received the group’s set and even interacted enough with the California-based musician to need the friendly reminder, “I’m not taking questions up here,” at one point from a laughing Dennen. With another great night of engaging rock wrapped at the Bowl, here’s hoping we’ll see Brett again soon.