A little heat never stopped fans in Phoenix, and the proof was in the line that wrapped around the block waiting in hundred-degree temps to see the Cheaper Than Therapy tour featuring Alex Warren and Michael Sanzone on Friday night. The show had been sold out for weeks, packing The Van Buren full of twenty-somethings, teens, and plenty of their parents.
First up was Michael Sanzone, accompanied by guitarist Pat McCloskey. The LA-based solo artist rose to fame in the Hype House but has since transitioned into making anthemic, upbeat folk-pop. And on stage, he’s immediately likable with a fun-loving attitude that gives you the sense he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Case in point: “Are you guys ready to rock?,” he asked early on in his set. The crowd cheered in response, to which he said, “Okay good but not yet because this one is about my dead grandma.” Counterbalancing his light tone, he offered up the backstory of said song (“Going, Going, Gone”), which he wrote from the POV of his late grandmother experiencing life’s adventures. It was a sweet moment made even better when some of the fans began singing along with him.
We picked up the pace with “Hooked” and a decent cover of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” — a difficult song to do justice on account of Caleb Followill’s unique voice. Crossing the stage back and forth, Sanzone pointed and waved to fans one by one, making them smile and swoon.
This was exactly the right energy to lead us into the headlining set, and the room was positively buoyant when Alex Warren emerged on a rolling pink pony.
Warren wasted no time launching into the explosive “Burning Down,” his powerful voice captivating the room. Like his tour mate, he got his start as a digital creator, but now it’s his music that’s selling out venues around the world. He reflected on this during the show, and his gratitude — for the fans, for his band, and for anyone who ever took a chance on him — is sincere.
With one album in his catalog and another releasing next month, Warren curated an hour-long set that packed a big punch. Crowd favorites included “Chasing Shadows” and “Save You a Seat,” and there were two unreleased tracks in the mix that promise a solid sophomore record. These built, of course, up to “Ordinary,” the smash success that’s (rightfully) everywhere right now, and an encore of “Carry You Home.” It was a cathartic finale, not only cheaper than therapy but also better.
