This wasn’t just another gig for Sam Smith.
“I can’t believe we are finally here,” the British pop star said on Tuesday night. “I have to say, out of all the shows I have ever done in my life, this is — by far — the most special show.”
What made this night so special? Well, for one thing it was the start of Smith’s 20-night “To Be Free: San Francisco” concert residency — which, in and of itself, is special enough. Yet, it was more — and bigger — than just that.
It was the rebirth of The Castro Theatre and a celebration of what this iconic place means to its neighborhood and LGBTQ+ community.
And what a celebration it was.
The opening concert for this rejuvenated palace — after going through a yearlong $41 million restoration shepherded by concert promoter Another Planet Entertainment — turned out to be a glorious success.
Yes, the sold-out crowd — the first of 20 that will fille the building for this residency that stretches into mid-March — loved hearing Smith, whose vocals were in pristine form during the 80-minute set. Yet, Smith would likely be the first tell you that the real star of the show was the Castro itself.
“Just walking into this room — wow,” Smith marveled as he looked around the spectacular Timothy Pfleuger-designed theater. “In the U.K., where I’m from, we have some beautiful rooms. But when it comes to rooms for queer people and gay people, nothing compares to this.”
Of course, there has been some controversy over the theater — which is still owned by the Nassers, the family that originally opened the place in 1922 — transforming from a movie house into a mixed-use arts facility, which will hold concerts, comedy shows and other events as well as movies. (The theater’s official opening event on Friday was actually a film screening — “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” — which served as a fundraiser for the Castro Community Benefit District.)
Yet, nobody was debating a thing inside the Castro on Tuesday night. Instead, they were too busy grooving and singing along to a well-stocked setlist of hits from Smith and a superb eight-piece band that included three backing vocalists providing spot-on harmony work.
The 33-year-old Smith kicked off the set — like the singer’s career itself — with a smoldering romantic take on “Lay Me Down,” the lead single from the 2014 debut “Lonely Hour.” From there, it was most definitely on — with the crowd and the performer vibing off each other in transcendent ways as they steadily moved, as if one, through “Too Good at Goodbyes,” “I’m Not the Only One” and other fan favorites.
Of course, it was evident even before the start of the show that the newly gussied-up Castro — with its blend of Spanish, Asian, Italian and Art Deco design styles — looked absolutely marvelous, the result of Another Planet pouring an additional $26 million into a project that was originally budgeted at $15 million.
Yet, audiophiles will be even more delighted to learn that the building also now sounds absolutely stellar. The sound system and acoustics sparkled throughout the show, handling Smith’s high-soaring vocals with the care and clarity that they deserve.
Those factors were much appreciated as Smith continued through this opening night set, which was highlighted by a fabulous cover of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” — which Smith learned about, via Bonnie Raitt’s famed rendition, while spending time with Elton John in the South of France. (Bonus points to Smith for expert level namedropping during the introduction to this song.)
Overall, it was a grand start, not just to a historic residency for Smith, but to a brand new chapter in one of the Bay Area’s most iconic landmarks — The Castro Theatre.
For more information about the venue — and to learn about upcoming events — visit thecastro.com.
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