Mystical Moments at Cafe Du Nord with Strawberry Guy

A misty haze, a sweaty but excited basement, and a hushed crowd. Strawberry Guy’s presence at Cafe Du Nord Wednesday night enthralled San Francisco. Alex Stephens, known as Strawberry Guy, is a Welsh artist best known for his ethereal song “Mrs. Magic.” With his recent re-release of “F Song” and “Mrs. Magic” with a string accompaniment, the UK musician is on a tour of the United States accompanied by young guitarist Free Ride as his opener.

I’ve known of Strawberry Guy since I was 16, my first days of driving associated with the mystical sound of Alex’s music. His brand of impressionist music got me through the rough patches of my junior year of high school, and a strange turbulent period in relationships with friends and family. With his show at Cafe Du Nord, I experienced a meaningful night of music surrounded by a small and intimate crowd. Starting with “F Song,” it was obvious from Stephens’ quiet demeanor and whispers into the microphone that he wanted the evening to be one where the audience was simply meant to enjoy the atmosphere of his music. Between each song there were hushed exchanges of excitement, and for the first time I was able to watch an artist simply perform. 

There were no songs to which the crowd sang along loudly, instead each performance of a song was personal, each key played on the piano saying its own word. Strawberry Guy allowed his songs to tell the story, as he played “Without You,” his first piece written and published, a song describing what it is like to watch a person you loved move on and share the happiness of their life without you. Another highlight from the night came from the song “Sun Outside my Window,” the titular song from Stephens’ 2021 album, a song that seems to merge the funky style of the band Vacations blended with the vocals of artist Matt Maltese, a combination that I thoroughly enjoyed. My favorite piece of the night, though, was “Intermission,” from EP Taking My Time to Be (2019), a song that only has one singular verse, the instrumental aspects of the piece being the focus of the one minute and fifty second song. There was something enthralling about that moment in the concert, watching the artist become fully enriched with the music he created. The piano was like an extension of Stephens, allowing for the music to become something even more than in that moment. 

Mixed in between the set were constant reminders of the quiet nature of the performance, as Strawberry Guy constantly struck the pose of a reprimanding teacher, a singular finger over his lips. However, as the night progressed, the crowd began to get more lively as the show went on. From spending birthdays at the concert to begging for the towel that Alex kept on stage, the artist stated that he had “never had a crowd that was as playful as this.” The energy from the night, although much more reserved than what I am accustomed to, allowed for an opportunity to interact with the artist while also respecting the music being played in the small venue. It all contributed to an incredibly personal performance, some audience members even sitting up on the edge of the stage as they watched Stephens perform. 

Watching Strawberry Guy’s performance Wednesday evening was a breath of fresh air amidst the chaos and stress of dead week. As the UK artist continues his tour, I am excited to see how the atmosphere of each concert influences what songs he plays and watch other crowds become entranced with Stephen’s one-man show. 

 

Article by: Ashley Mauldin 

Photos by: Ashley Mauldin