Located right around the corner from Times Square and in the middle of Restaurant Row, Sony Hall in New York City may seem like a typical jazz and concert lounge, complete with speciality cocktails and elegant-looking entrees and desserts. But on February 22, the venue was packed to host a staple in folk and country music; Drew & Ellie Holcomb took the stage on their “Memory Bank” tour.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t familiar with this duo until recently. However, I did make sure to do my research to get a taste of the anticipation attendees would emit at the doors.

Both artists are reputable in their own right. Drew Halcomb is the lead singer of popular folk band Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, and Ellie Holcomb is making a name for herself as a singer-songwriter and children book author. Though they have toured together before, Memory Bank, released just last month, is their first full-length album together. Based on their most recent performance of the album’s title track, “Memory Bank,” on The Kelly Clarkson Show, my expectations for their show were set pretty high—long story short, they did not disappoint.

Unlike most shows, Drew & Ellie Holcomb opted to forego an opener, instead spitting their performance into two sets: an intimate acoustic portion featuring just the two of them, followed by a full-band performance. In between the first and second acts, Nashville-based duo Small Time took the stage. Despite being a fairly newer group—their first single “Black Cloud” dropped earlier this month—singers and multi-instrumentalists S. Grant Parker and Jac Thompson captured the crowd’s attention with their soulful harmonies and their ethereal acoustics.

From the moment Drew and Ellie Holcomb sauntered on stage, the ardor within the packed theatre was nothing short of galvanizing. They shifted through more energetic songs like “Memory Bank,” “You Drive Me Crazy,” and their rendition of “Shut Up and Dance,” by pop-rock band Walk The Moon, that had the crowd, myself included, jumping and dancing off their seats.

However, it was the slower moments of their set that stood out to me the most. Gentle acoustic guitar strums combined with loving glances set a relaxed ambiance and, at least to me, gave the impression that not only do they care about the music they create, they also deeply care about each other.

Another standout aspect of their show was how personable they were with the audience. For instance, at one point in the night, Ellie spoke about a series she started on her TikTok page called “Memory Monday,” where she shares a specific Bible verse and sings it in her own style. She then proceed to sing a Bible verse to the crowd that left everyone in a revered awe. Unfortunately, I do not remember what verse it was but, as someone who grew up in a fairly religious family, it was touching to experience a moment of someone sharing a vulnerable dedication in a heartfelt and relatable way.

DREW HOLCOMB | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | X

ELLIE HOLCOMB | WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE

Overall, their captivating stage presence and lively, feel-good set makes The Memory Bank Tour a show you would not want to miss. If you want to catch Drew and Ellie on tour, their current tour continues until May, along with a smaller tour throughout the New England states this summer.

DREW HOLCOMB AND THE NEIGHBORS / WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE

ELLIE HOLCOMB / WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / YOUTUBE

SMALL TIME / INSTAGRAM