A night I won’t forget with Amigo the Devil

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of attending a benefit concert at the historic Granada Theater in Lawrence, Kansas. The line-up featured one of my biggest creative influences in recent years — Amigo the Devil. I went in not knowing the background of why the benefit was organized, which made the experience feel both intimate and intimidating. As the night unfolded, the artists spoke about the importance of community, of reaching out to those who need support.

I felt honored to be there, even while feeling a bit like an outsider surrounded by people who clearly knew one another. What I can say with certainty is that Danny’s performance — especially his choice to forgo a setlist and just follow the moment — was one of the most raw and vulnerable shows I’ve ever witnessed. Between songs about identity and grief, he shared words of affirmation and love. Those conversations with the audience cut through my sense of being out of place and helped me lower my guard, letting me get out of my own way for a while.

The metaphors of loss, hope, and fear reached me in a way I didn’t expect. For the first time in a long time, I felt a genuine connection with a room full of strangers — one that went beyond shared taste in music. I was given space to feel sadness I hadn’t yet been able to face this year, to grieve the people I’ve lost, and to sit with those emotions without needing to hide them.

I’m grateful for being part of such a special night — one that held both pain and beauty in equal measure. I may not be able to feel exactly what anyone else in that room was feeling, but I want to say this: I see you, I hear you, and I love you.