Musicians Cool Down At Never Ending Books

“I’ve been crying, I’ve been trying / Reinvent myself each day to keep from dying,” sang Sarah Gross, the first of two musical acts to perform at Never Ending Books on Friday. The lyrics came from her original song ​“Liar,” the first of many originals she played that night. Gross’s full, sweet voice and introspective lyrics recalled a young Taylor Swift, right on the cusp of transitioning out of country music.

“I feel like yeah, these are my people,” Gross told the crowd at the bookstore. ​“This is my idea of a good Friday night.”

Apparently, it was theirs as well, as the audience responded enthusiastically to Gross’s songs. Many of her lyrics captured the idea of growing up, and evolving as a person, while also grappling with complex interpersonal dynamics. In ​“State I’m In,” she sang, ​“I get scared that everything will change / Once they truly know my name.” Listening to Gross sing felt like accompanying her on a journey of self-discovery, as rewarding for the listener as for the singer.

Gross told the audience that she loved to read, and some of her songs were inspired by books. Upon noticing a particularly excited child in the audience, she asked him what his favorite book was. It was A Wrinkle in Time, which the crowd agreed was a good choice.

“Keep at it, because maybe someday you’ll be a songwriter and write songs about your favorite books,” said Gross.

She played ​“Naturally,” which was based on the novel Call Me By Your Name. The heartbreaking lyrics spelled a story of doomed but devoted romance. ​“You’re not a god / I’m not a saint / For you I’d be a martyr with your name etched on my grave,” she sang.

The set was routinely interrupted — although not overly disturbed — by the rearranging of fans to cope with the oppressive heat. Gross shared that she believed that she brought inclement weather with her wherever she went. On that note, she played ​“Brooklyn,” a song about rain.

Gross then asked the audience to choose a song for her to cover, and someone volunteered ​“The Chain,” by Fleetwood Mac. ​“I’m gonna have to make up a lot of these words,” joked Gross. She invited Allie Sandt, the next performer, on stage with her to help her sing it, and before long the audience chimed in for the chorus.

The themes of Gross’s original songs were widespread and varied, but many touched on the idea of growing up. ​“Sharks in the Water” was about the difficulty of being an artist. ​“Sibling Song” encapsulated the feeling of having two older brothers and growing up the only girl. She ended the set with ​“Better With Age,” a song about youthful mistakes and maturing.

“Pick my pockets / Nothing to change / Oh I’m trying to get better / Better with age,” Gross sang.

Next up came Allie Sandt, accompanied by Jedd Kronberg on bass, Teddy Holly on guitar, and Mia Abazis on drums. They opened with a cover of George Michael’s ​“Faith.” Sandt’s voice felt smooth and sultry, and it washed over the crowd, building from a quiet stream to the full crash of a waterfall. The feeling of running water did wonders for the audience in the thick heat.

“We’re trying to come up with a band name. Right now we’re Allie and the Long Island Mediums,” said Sandt. ​“It changes nightly.”

The next song, ​“Ace,” was an original with an almost jazzy feel to it. ​“My vision starts to go / You’re all that I can see / And life continues on / For everyone but me,” sang Sandt.

She wrote ​“Amanda Antiques” following a visit to an antique store just after her college graduation, where she met a woman named Amanda who gave her some advice about pursuing what you love. The song had an almost beachy feel, and it had the audience tapping their feet as Sandt sang, ​“Amanda, Antique‑a / You’ve just got to meet her.”

She slowed down the pace a little bit with ​“The Wheel,” before launching into ​“The Flood,” which involved audience participation. Some of the audience already knew the lyrics, and sang along even outside of the participation section.

“There’s something about playing at a bookstore and being able to browse after,” said Sandt. ​“One thing about me is that I love to browse.”

“I’m also a big reader,” she added. The song ​“Butterfly Effect” was inspired by an explanation of the butterfly effect in Stephen King’s 11/22/63. The song captured all the tiny signs and signals that contribute to the inception and then ending of a relationship. ​“And now I’m looking down at us and wishing I could scream / Leave now,” she sang.

Sandt and her band alternated between rousing covers like ​“Tainted Love” and equally energetic originals. ​“Light Bill” was inspired by an overpass in Syracuse with a mural that read ​“I only paid the light bill so I could see your face.” Sandt wrote ​“Field Trip in Europe” eight years ago, about the exploits of a cousin who had lived in Europe when Sandt herself was 12.

The night ended with a powerful and roof-raising cover of ​“Valerie” by Amy Winehouse, to which everyone sang along. ​“Oh won’t you come on over, stop making a fool out of me / Why won’t you come on over, Valerie,” sang Sandt. The audience swayed in their seats until the entire room felt like a rocking boat.

At the end of the night, the heat was as overwhelming as ever. But the music had helped the crowd to cool off — or if not to cool off, to be distracted for a little. Listening to a person’s original songs is a bit like getting a glimpse into someone’s diary, but less furtive and more rewarding. Following the concert at Never Ending Books, the audience left feeling sated, cooled, and rewarded above all else.