Mark Ambor • Kenzie • November 19, 2024 • The Complex
Reviewed and Photographed by Josilyn Wakkuri Lybbert
Fans of indie artist Mark Ambor happily waited in line and braced cold temperatures to get the perfect spot for his highly anticipated, sold-out Rockwood Tour stop at The Complex in Salt Lake City! It didn’t surprise me when a security guard said that over 900 tickets were sold for the show because even before the show started, the crowd flowed out into the lobby and couldn’t fit into the entire room in the venue that the show was to take place in!
I quickly noticed that the crowd was more diverse in age than I was expecting! While a large portion of the fans were teens to twenty-something year olds, there were quite a few people beyond that age range, and I even noticed a handful of little kids. One stood right at the barricade but couldn’t even see over it!
Kenzie
One family that I spoke to briefly also had young children in tow and said they were there just to see the opening act, Kenzie. Kenzie, who prior to this show, I knew best as McKenzie Ziegler from the television show Dance Moms. I vaguely remembered an episode of the show from about a decade ago where Kenzie recorded some music. That was my last exposure to her as a recording artist, so I was looking forward to seeing her set now!
Fans were thrilled when Kenzie took the stage, cheering and hyping her up! She opened up with, “biting my tongue,” and people all across the crowd were singing along!
Kenzie was effortlessly cool, and her voice was as well – it was so pretty! After a few songs, she introduced herself and said, “It’s so good to be back in Salt Lake, it’s beautiful here!” She shared that some of the songs that she would be singing would be from her album, “biting my tongue,” that she’d been writing for the last four years.
Kenzie’s next song, “tragedy,” was about a, “situationship,” that she is now dating! “Situationships don’t usually end that way!” she joked. On a similar note, “6 feet under,” was about a relationship, but this one was about a toxic ex, who Kenzie shared was funnily enough from Salt Lake City!
Kenzie’s last two songs, “anatomy,” and, “bad 4 u,” seemed to be especially popular among the crowd as people sang along! Her set seemed to end all too soon for the fans, but they absolutely loved every second of Kenzie’s performance!
Between Kenzie and Mark Ambor’s set, the crowd passionately participated in many sing-a-longs to songs such as, “Dog Days Are Over,” by Florence + the Machine and, “Party in the USA,” by Miley Cyrus. As the stage was being assembled for Mark’s set, I noticed a backdrop with the tour and his album’s namesake, “Rockwood,” in a font reminiscent of a summer camp – in a good way! Strands of lights were hung across the stage that really added to the ambiance!
Mark Ambor
When the lights went down to indicate that the show was about to begin, the screams of excitement echoed throughout the venue and didn’t stop for the rest of the night! Lights flashed back on and the band and Mark Ambor took the stage! It was clear from the get-go that he was genuinely happy to be there and was touched by the love he was receiving from the fans! He opened up with, “I Hope It All Works Out.” Everyone seemed to be instantly captivated by Mark and his music! He did a great job of giving individuals attention as he performed. From a smile to a wave, even simply exchanging eye contact would send fans into a tizzy!
Mark shared that the name Rockwood came from a park in the town he grew up in that people would go to hang out, go on a date, etc., but he said that, regardless of why they went to Rockwood, it always felt like an escape from the world, and he said that’s what he wanted the show to be for people!
After songs, “Don’t You Worry,” and, “The Long Way,” Mark said, “Are you guys always this crazy? I’ve heard great things about Salt Lake City, and I’ve never been here before, so this is really cool.” Salt Lake definitely has a reputation for being a great crowd, so it was fun to hear that he’d heard that rumor and confirmed that it was true!
Mark’s voice was stunning and strong live! It’s beautiful in his recorded tracks, but it packed a certain power live. He was also skillful with a guitar and piano and would switch between the two throughout the show!
Partway through the show, he announced that he would be playing the next few songs in the same way they were written – stripped down and acoustic. That is always a great aspect of live music on its own, but it got even better! Mark hopped off of the stage and jumped into the crowd! Those he passed by were absolutely beside themselves, squealing or hugging a friend. He and his guitar made it to the middle of the tightly packed crowd and sang, “Hate That I Still Love You.”
The crowd almost seemed to be singing louder than Mark, especially at the chorus! Their powerful sing-alongs throughout the entirety of the night were very unique! It was like each person knew every word of every song! At most shows, it seems like there are a handful of hits that really prompt crowd participation. But at Mark’s show, every song seemed to evoke that participation!
While people fed off of Mark’s energy, he also reciprocated theirs! “I love you,” would be shouted frequently throughout the night, and he would say it right back. I even noticed him saying, “I love you, Salt Lake,” a few times while taking in the events of the night.
So many of Mark’s songs were so uplifting, sweet, and endearing. “Sky Is The Limit,” was so pretty and the lyrics were swoon-worthy! Fans once again gave their best performance right alongside Mark for that one! “Good to Be,” was also a cheery song! Mark played the ukulele for it, which added a lot of fun!
“Bruised and Stains,” brought a more serious tone. Mark described it as being about, “The person I am that I wish I wasn’t.” The lyrics elude to an internal battle of overcoming shortcomings and struggles and being proud of oneself when there is victory over those tough times.
All too soon, it was time for the encore! It started out with, “My Love”. Then ended with Mark’s viral hit that’s been streamed over 560 million times, “Belong Together.” People really cut loose for this last one! Everyone was dancing and singing at the top of their lungs!
As I made my way out of The Complex, Mark’s band were coming off of the stage. They were excitedly sharing sentiments with the general theme of, “that was awesome!” I feel like that sums up how the night to felt for those lucky to enjoy the Rockwood Tour! Kicking off with Kenzie to ending the night with Mark, this show was an absolute treat from start to finish!