Anderson East makes the crowd fall in love at World Cafe Live

Anderson East | Photo by Breanna Keohane for WXPN

World Cafe Live showed a little southern hospitality Thursday night when Alabama native Anderson East came into town for a sold-out show, joined by opener Andrew Combs. Wakling out on stage with guitar in hand and ccompanied by his touring band, Combs warmed the crowd with melodic country-folk ballads, making him a perfect touring partner with East.

While word has been buzzing around about Miranda Lambert’s new love interest, Anderson East sure put on a show of his own. Contrary to some of his laid-back studio sound, East came out with a truly entertaining and energetic set. Playing songs like “Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em, and Forget ‘Em” and “Satisfy Me,” his mix of R&B and folk style was backed by touring band’s trumpet, sax and keyboard players. Typically a solo singer songwriter, East and his band appeared to coexist seamlessly, rounding out the strong melodies that accompany each song.

Mid-way through his set, East announced he was about to “freestyle” and got up close and personal to the crowd as he sat on the edge of the stage to cover Van Morrison. However, East’s original lyrical stories take on a unique perspective through each song. While some songs are inspired by his father’s ill advice or getting involved with a preacher’s daughter, he made sure to show Philadelphia his mellow, sensitive side through “What A Woman Wants To Hear” while couples in the crowd pulled each other close.

Check out the photos of Combs and East’s show in the gallery bellow.