Joshua Henry plays to his theatrical strengths at NON-COMM

The Canadian-American singer-songwriter Joshua Henry is the ultimate triple threat: he can sing, dance, and even act, although the former two were mostly on display tonight. His resume includes nominations for both Tony and Grammy awards, and indicates a collaborative working relationship with the visionary Lin Manuel Miranda (Henry starred as Aaron Burr in the first US run of Hamilton, among other Miranda projects).

Before I even researched all of this, it was evident Henry has star power. He made full use of the stage to physically express his music accompanied by a classic rock band setup complete with Stratocaster guitar. Henry’s theatrical performance was a natural follow up to previous act Low Cut Connie, but with less stripping. His unbridled energy was contagious, and could be summed up best with Henry’s own lyrics in the set’s second song, “Guarantee:” “The don’t know what we found / I’m your dopamine / Open me, I’m here right now.”

Even the toughest critics in the crowd couldn’t help but eke out a smile watching Henry’s performance. In the second half of his set, the band slowed it down to showcase Henry’s sentimental side. Songs like “Can’t Nobody Tell Us Nothin'” and “Love Me” featured explosive pop elements overflowing with heart.