Until I Found Stephen Sanchez
Written by: Lyra Wilson
I always wondered what it was like back in the day to go to a Frank Sinatra concert. Before the Beatles, it was a different kind of phenomenon. Guys and gals would dress up in their poodle skirts and suits, while the crooners of the golden age would look suave on stage. This night made me believe I was there. Stephen Sanchez, today’s modern crooner, known most notably for his viral song “Until I Found You,” came to the Windy City to blow everyone away.
Couples dressed up in old-fashioned '50s–early '60s attire. Heading into the show, an announcer came on; it reminded me of retro television shows like “The Ed Sullivan Show” from that era. The announcer, Connie Co, smoothly jived his way onto the stage and brought on the opening act, Brook and The Bluff. He announced the band's recent single, “Bad Bad News.” Immediately when they came on stage, they had a burst of energy. It was super fun, with the lead singer Joseph moving and dancing across the stage and jumping with the other guitarists. The Alabama-native group was all smiles, and they surprised me when they played their song “Everything’s A Mess” from their first LP in 2019. I recognized it because I remember loving the relaxing tones and adding it to one of my curated playlists. It was amazing to discover that I already knew some of their work and found more fun songs to add to my playlists.
Photo by Lyra Wilson
The announcer returned to the mic to introduce Stephen Sanchez to the stage. The whole stage setup was aglow, and he stepped onto the set like air. Whoever did the art direction for it deserves serious props (see what I did there, haha). I had to do a double take to make sure I wasn’t witnessing Hairspray live on the Corny Collins show. It was the ultimate throwback with the outfit, coiffed hair, and slick dance moves.
I don’t have arrhythmia, but I have to admit watching him made my heart skip a beat. I swooned like a lot of the girls in the audience did. Something about Stephen brings me back to the era where I really wish men looked this suave consistently. Plus, as a girl who feels like she was born in the wrong decade, there was something so timeless about that era.
The show was full of surprises. Stephen walked through the audience, met fans, danced on the bar, and sang classic hits like “Put Your Head On My Shoulder.” In the middle of the show, the announcer, Connie Co, went behind the interview desk and asked Stephen questions from fans. One answer that made me laugh was when he was asked about what he was most afraid of. His answer was so comical and made me love his sense of humor. He said he was most afraid of being robbed and stabbed, which is justifiable. He even got up to make a whole skit out of it, which again made me feel like I was watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
This night was certainly a blast from the past that I’ll never forget.
