Photos by Marc Fong // Written by Nikki DeMartini //
JMSN with Rochelle Jordan, Devon Baldwin //
The Independent – San Francisco
March 2nd, 2015 //
Last March, Christian Berishaj (better known by his stage name JMSN) opened for Crosses at The Independent. And now a year later, he has headlined there!
Dressed in Bermuda cutoffs, an over-sized, striped T-shirt, slip-on kicks and a simple gold cross on a long gold chain, JMSN looked every bit indie, complete with a well-kept beard as he breezed on to the stage. A diverse crowd leisurely mingled following supporting act Rochelle Jordan — the show was sold out by the time the headliner started.
With an exhilarated pep in his step, the Albanian-American singer/songwriter/producer from Detroit kicked things off with “Addicted” from his 2014 self-titled (The Blue) album. Greeting the crowd with a charismatic “how y’all doing?” JMSN came off very friendly and genuine, quick to interact with and introduce his bandmates and coolly connect with his fans.
His R&B singing style, paired with indie back-up bass and drums, gave the spirited set a subtle folk feel with a good-vibe glow. The talented frontman gracefully bopped around the stage all night, delivering a lively show, which pleasantly offset the somberness of the songs.
Compared to the likes of How to Dress Well and Bon Iver, JMSN has undoubtedly mastered a unique technique of blending the soul, indie and R&B genres. Appealing to a wide-ranging fan base, JMSN continues to garner high praises and a growing popularity with a wholehearted ease.
Leave a Reply