Stephen Sanchez – Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia (A PopEntertainment.com Concert Photo Album)

Stephen Sanchez – Franklin Music Hall – Philadelphia, PA – December 6, 2023

A Stephen Sanchez show brings you back in time.

If you don’t recognize the name, you would likely recognize his hit song, “Until I Found You.” In 2021, the song went viral on TikTok and launched him into mainstream media. The song landed Sanchez an invitation from Elton John to perform it with him at Glastonbury.

Flash forward to December 2023, Stephen Sanchez and his band The Moon Crests performed at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia. The show opened with “Something About Her,” a track from his first full-length album, Angel Face. This song showed off his stellar vocals as the audience was silent and entranced for the length of the song.

The singer has often been compared to Elvis Presley due to his style of dance, aesthetic, and stage presence. Sanchez lives up to this comparison with his ability to make his old soul 1950s style relatable to the current generation. Dressed in black trousers and a collared shirt with his hair slicked back, he had the crowd swooning over him. The whole show felt like it was something from the past.

Throughout the show, Sanchez would pause in between songs to tell the story of a young troubadour and his forbidden love, which intertwines with his debut album. The audience was very engaged with the theme and timeline of the story. Many members of the audience came dressed in 1950s and 1960s fashion with poodle skirts and fancy gowns. It was an immersive performance to say the least.

Despite cancelling his previous show due to sickness, his voice and energy were unmatched. Sanchez’s live vocals were mesmerizing, and emotion filled. In the middle of the show, he performed “Unchained Melody,” which really showed off his vocal control. Sanchez interacted with the audience as often as he could, always smiling and making jokes. His song “Shake,” displayed his ability to move and dance as though his whole body felt the music.

A special moment in the show was when a fan asked him to play an old song of his and he happily agreed. Sanchez and his band played “Hold Her While You Can” for the first time during the whole tour. The crowd was enthralled and Stephen himself seemed excited to perform and please his fans as well.

As the night ended, Sanchez and The Moon Crests played “Until I Found You” with everyone in the room accompanying them. Sanchez put on an unforgettable performance. The detail in the outfits, lighting, and storytelling fit the 1950’s look perfectly. His career is just getting started and it will be exciting to see where it goes.

Emily DiMarcangelo