Michael Marcagi in Zurich

Another day, another concert, this time it’s Michael Marcagi in Zurich at Plaza. For anyone new to his name, Marcagi sits comfortably in that sweet spot between folk, indie, and country-leaning storytelling. The kind of artist whose songs feel personal without trying too hard. I had been curious about his live show for a while…

I was especially looking forward to this show for two reasons. First, Michael Marcagi has some genuinely great songs. Second, I found out that Evan Honer was supporting him. Evan was up first. While the venue sadly took its time filling up and felt quite empty when he stepped on stage, his set absolutely won me over. He comes across as such a fun, effortless dude, insanely talented and with a voice that just pulls you in. Hearing Jersey Giant live was a highlight.

Concert Photos: Evan Honer

High Energy and New Music from Michael Marcagi

By the time Michael Marcagi finally came on, Plaza was nicely filled. The audience was a bit younger than I expected. There was even a little boy in the front row, maybe six or seven years old, having the absolute time of his life. Marcagi brought great energy to the stage! My country-loving heart was especially happy when his guitar player showed up with a banjo and mandolin. Alongside fan favorites like The Other Side, Keep Me Honest, and Scared to Start, we also got a few brand-new songs from his album that had literally dropped that very day. Happy album release day at this point 🙂

A Chill Crowd, A Small Rant, and a Great Night

One of the highlights of the night was Evan Honer coming back on stage to join Michael for Humbling. While the venue was not sold out, the overall vibe in the room was relaxed and warm. People clearly were enjoying themselves.

And yet… rant mode activated for a moment. Those two ladies in the front who would not stop talking during Evan’s set were a prime example of something I will never fully understand. Why pay for a ticket, stand up at the front, and then treat the support act like background noise for your personal podcast?

Talking a bit between songs is normal, grabbing a drink and chatting is part of the experience, sure. But loudly yapping, laughing, and narrating your life story?? All while an artist is pouring their heart out on stage? Just feels wildly disrespectful. Not just to the musician, but also to everyone around you who actually wants to listen. Support acts already have a tough job winning over a crowd. A crowd that did not specifically come for them… So the least we can do is give them our ears for 30 minutes. Thankfully, even they eventually quieted down and actually started listening. Progress!

Rant over. Because despite that brief frustration, I really loved this show. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I vibed with Michael Marcagi live… If he comes back this way, I will absolutely be there again 🎶✨