REVIEW: Overit Homegrown Sessions Welcomes Little Saints

Jan 25

12/16 @ Caffè Lena, Saratoga Springs

“The group truly owned the stage and each member got their time to shine with moments that showcase their skills.”

Caffè Lena is a venue with an unmatched duality in the 518 music scene. On one hand, it’s a warm and welcoming space with an excellent staff including passionate volunteers — a place where everyone can gather to enjoy a show. On the other hand, it’s absolutely hallowed ground with a stage that has hosted a legendary lineage of performers and continues to platform up-and-coming local music as well as touring favorites to this very day.

At last Friday’s installment of the Overit Homegrown Sessions, Little Saints were the latest to join that lineage as they took the stage in front of an eager audience filled with anticipation in a room that, if it wasn’t at full capacity, was pretty damn close to being a full house.

The band took their positions on stage and welcomed everyone to the show, with frontwoman Natalie Santini telling the room what an honor it was to be able to take this stage and welcoming their fans, especially her parents who had made the trip to be in attendance and were sitting front and center. They kicked off their set with “Easy to Leave,” with the band immediately settling in and delivering a tight set flush with original music with expert precision. Their folky blend of americana and soul was on full display, with Ian Dingman and Sam Zucchini locked in, providing a top-notch rhythm section and Andy Arnold adding some spectacular shredding on electric guitar. It all came together behind Santini’s acoustic guitar and powerfully soulful lead vocals. The group truly owned the stage and each member got their time to shine with moments that showcase their skills. With a humble yet commanding presence, Santini chatted up the crowd in between songs with discussions of her cat, ruminations on imposter syndrome (ahead of their song “Imposter at Heart,” which she noted was not about imposter syndrome but rather a literal imposter), and plenty of self-deprecating humor about what she called her “sad songs.”

While the set was a showcase of the band’s original material including two sets flush with 14 original songs, there were a couple of covers included as well. One particularly poignant moment came when Santini empathized with the audience about how difficult it is to exist emotionally in the trying times we are currently living in, before the band launched into a surprising and spirited rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Fortunate Son.” It was a cathartic moment where some in the crowd even began to sing along, with the rebellious anti-war and anti-imperialism sentiment of the track a perfect fit for a room teeming to the brim with protest-folk history.

Closing their second and final set of the evening with “Birthday Party,” the crowd implored the band to stay on for one more song. Their joy at getting the opportunity for an encore at such a prestigious local venue was written all over their performance as they delivered an excellent rendition of their single “Harvest” before signing off for the evening on a tremendous high note. It was a fitting conclusion to a set rife with emotion, not the least of which was that of triumph. Little Saints consistently delivers soulful, powerful performances, and this was just another excellent chapter in their 518 music legacy.