GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV
Gregory Alan Isakov, The Mann Center, Philadelphia, PA 8/21/2026
Gregory Alan Isakov backed by the Philly Pops sounds like a dream combination, so I knew I had to be at this show. And from the opening notes, it was clear that the pairing was every bit as special as I had hoped.
The Philly Pops took the stage first before Gregory and the rest of his band joined them, opening the night with “Before the Sun.” They followed with “Amsterdam,” an all-time favorite that sounded incredible with the added depth of the orchestra.
Before launching into “The Stable Song,” Gregory shared that the band has ties to both Philadelphia and Colorado. He also mentioned that his parents had season tickets to the Philly Pops and joked that he was “the worst musician on the stage.” He kept the mood light throughout the evening, joking that they had a few more songs before an intermission because it was, as he put it, a “fancy show.”
One of the biggest surprises of the night for me was “Liars.” I had never heard the song before, but it quickly became my favorite performance of the evening. The way it blended with the orchestra was incredible, and the voice modifier used at the beginning gave the song an old-timey quality that made it feel completely unique. When the song ended, the entire crowd rose for a standing ovation.
The second set brought even more memorable moments. Gregory invited his brother, Ilan, onto the stage and shared that their first concert at The Mann was Kenny G. The Philly crowd responded with a huge round of applause. Another highlight was “Sweet Heat Lightning,” his recent hit, which sounded especially powerful with the full orchestra behind it.
Gregory closed the main set with “Caves,” but the crowd wasn't ready to let the night end. He and the band returned for a two-song encore featuring “Feed Your Horses” and “Saint Valentine.” The performances earned another standing ovation, with the entire band taking a bow before heading off into the night.
The combination of Gregory Alan Isakov's intimate songwriting, his band's musicianship, and the sweeping sound of the Philly Pops made for a truly memorable night at The Mann. It was one of those shows where the arrangements gave familiar songs an entirely new life, and made the songs I didn't know just as memorable.
Shot and Written by Jonah van Bemmelen
