AHI opened eyes, ears and hearts with his powerful show at the Beachland Tavern, 11/1/19

There was a time in my youth when my father’s extensive album collection was my number one source for discovery of new music. I would sit on the floor in front of the shelf made from wooden crates of cardboard wrapped vinyl, above which sat his sound system. Randomly, I would extract albums and take a look—if the imagery, title, or whatever else intrigued me… I would pull out the black vinyl, place it on the player and have a listen. As the needle danced along the rotating disc, I would be exposed to new sounds and musical adventures

Recently, I have found myself employing a similar method to the discovery of new music. As I meander through the halls of venues during shows, I am sometimes drawn to particular posters of upcoming events. As I peruse my social media accounts, certain “targeted” ads catch my eye. As was the case with my father’s albums—when I find myself hit by that certain intrigue, I take the time to listen.

This is the process that led me to the Beachland Tavern on Sunday night to check out a new-to-me artist, AHI (pronounced “eye”). There was something about his promo image coupled with his unique name that motivated me to search his music out, and I liked what I found.

The Beachland Tavern was sparsely populated when my friend and I walked through the door, yet there was an air of musical appreciation and respect. On stage was local artist John McGrail, pouring his passion into the smooth, yet powerful melodies he spun with his voice and guitar. Flanked by Carl Holt on the drum and Jay Benthoff on Bass, their almost reserved presentation managed to deliver an impactful performance in sound and message. A Cleveland native, McGrail combined purpose and passion in his musical expression.

After a short break, three new players took to the stage in an equally unassuming manner. Yet the moment AHI took charge of the microphone, the gentle power of his raspy voice took hold of the night. With nothing but that voice, he drew the audience into his presence. He maintained that connection and mutual investment throughout the night, not letting go until the last chords faded into silence.

AHI is not just a musician; he is also a storyteller. Taking time behind the microphone to share his authentic truths of inspiration, perspective, and emotion—AHI weaved stories and messages of shared humanity. The stories were connected to almost every song, delivered with humor and truth, creating a genuine connection to the personal and the process within his artistry.

Behind AHI (his voice and his guitar), Shawn Killaly enticed intricate rhythms via drums and percussion and Jordan Peters took complex voyages through the strings of the guitar. With nothing but two guitars and percussion accompanying the vocals, the players on stage created a rich depth in sound and feeling. The songs they delivered were deeply impactful to the mind, heart and ears.

In a moment that could have felt forced or contrived, the artist on stage actually created a shared moment of authentic artistry as the audience was asked to rise to their feet and join their voices into a beautiful chorus. The result was a warmth and fullness that melded perfectly into the passionate expression of the artists on stage.

Sunday night’s performance at the Beachland Tavern took the appreciation I had found in the somewhat random discovery of AHI’s music to a level of devotion and belief. His music is deep in sound and meaning. His presence on stage is authentic and engaging. His impact is much deeper than entertaining. AHI is one of those artists I believe I will one day be able to say, “I saw him when…” I would definitely suggest placing this one on your radar; he has definitely created a permanent blip on mine.