 "Photo: Heather Meyers")
A.S. Presents brought Colbie Caillat to the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium on Thursday for a sold out crowd, songs fit for island listening and a surprise performance that left listeners awestruck.
Caillat brought an all-ages audience. Couples, children and a large number of female fans waited for the doors to open in a line that snaked around the front of the auditorium doors.
The show began on time with a performance by Rey Fresco. The Ventura band brought a sound that would have been better suited on a beach than indoors.
Rey Fresco used a harp and unusual side-stepping done by the lead singer to keep people interested. Overall their sound, which could have been considered easy listening, seemed out of place on the cold night in Chico.
The majority of the crowd sat when and where it was possible for the entire opening performance. Without much of a real send off, Rey Fresco left the stage after their set.
There was a brief intermission before Grammy-Award winning Caillat came on to the stage. The entire crowd stood as she slowly sauntered onto the stage with a smile and five male musicians behind her.
Cheers and the increase in energy showed the excitement of the anticipatory crowd.
A.S. Presents has brought other big performers to Chico in the past, but Caillat was different from the rest.
“She’s probably one of the biggest we have had in her prime, so that’s why it makes her so unique,” said Greer Shuler of A.S. Presents.
Caillat played songs from her “Coco” and “Breakthrough” albums, including “One Fine Wire,” “Fallin’ For You,” “Realize” and “Begin Again.”
The mellow crowd swayed to the soothing melodies that Caillat hit flawlessly.
After each song, Caillat graciously thanked the crowd. Before performing the song “Fearless,” Caillat spoke to the crowd about a time in her life when her own stage fright had almost ended her new career. She then shared with the crowd her insight into conquering fear.
“I just want to remind you that it can be temporary and you can get past it,” Caillat said.
People could be seen singing as Caillat played her many crowd favorites.
Dee Chadd enjoyed the upbeat vibe that Caillat provides. She had come to the show with a group of her co-workers.
“It’s believable honesty that comes through in her music,” Chadd said about Caillat’s performance.
Caillat also brought an interesting rendition of two Bob Marley songs. However, what was more surprising was who sang with her.
Caillat called a man who had been moving guitars on stage to sing with her.
Small in stature with long blonde hair, the man approached the microphone as the crowd looked on in confusion. Wailing into the microphone, the man burst into Marley’s song, “No Woman, No Cry,” as Caillat smiled.
Jaws dropped and the crowd cheered louder than any of the songs performed by Caillat.
Caillat briefly left, but received an encore to bring her back in front of her fans. She came back and performed her hit “Bubbly” and used the crowd as background singers.
The audience left the BMU Auditorium relaxed and contented as they talked about the surprise performance and her melodic voice.
Lindsay Woychick can be reached at
lwoychick@theorion.com
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