1 Photo
A relaxing atmosphere, soothing guitar melodies, and a voice described by AXS as “pure silken gold” are in store at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Friday, June 9, when Center Moriches native Jeff LeBlanc performs songs from his latest album.
Mr. LeBlanc had aspirations of becoming a middle school teacher while attending Sacred Heart University until he discovered his passion for songwriting in 2004. His performing career began on the streets of Westhampton Beach, playing outside Beach Bakery Cafe hoping to grab the attention of people leaving shows at the performing arts center.
“It was very humbling, looking back on it,” Mr. LeBlanc reflected during an interview last week at Hampton Coffee in Water Mill. “At the time, it was the best thing I could do. It was such a big deal for me.”
Now, Mr. LeBlanc is returning to that same venue he used to dream of performing in, except this time, he is headlining.
“I’ve returned to the theater as an opening act, but never as a headliner. When they asked me to play there this summer, I had to jump at the opportunity,” Mr. LeBlanc said. “Plus, I’ll have a full band with me, which will be cool.”
He has gained recognition over the years opening for popular artists such as Gavin DeGraw, Boz Scaggs, Colbie Caillat, Daughtry and more. He said he appreciates everything he learned during his experiences playing as an unknown opener for a big name artist.
“With opening, you have a lot more to prove,” Mr. LeBlanc noted. “Opening acts are usually a thing people don’t like. You have to prove to people that you’re worthy of their time, because they paid to see the headliner, not you. You have to win them over, kind of like speed-dating.”
However, after just releasing his fourth studio album, “Vision,” Mr. LeBlanc is no stranger to headlining. While headlining a show is a dream come true for a musician, he said there are different challenges that come with being the main act.
“With headlining, there’s different pressure,” he said. “You’re there to make sure people have a good time and play what they want to hear, but you also want to be artistic and true to yourself.” He said he tries to find a balance between giving the audience too much and not giving them enough. “I always like to leave people wanting more.”
Mr. LeBlanc is an artist who prefers to have a connection with his audience when he is performing, as if he were playing for them in the comfort of his own home. “When people see my live shows, I almost feel a friendship between us,” he said. “It’s like I’m playing for them in my living room.”
He regards “Vision” as his best album yet. “It has deeper content than I would have been able to write when I was younger” he said. “I also used a great studio, so I’m really proud of the production and quality of it. It has a really cool vibe to it.”
Moving forward, he will focus on creating individual song releases, instead of a full-length album. However, he tries his best not to stress himself out thinking about the future: “It’s easy to get freaked out when you think too much down the line, I try not to worry so much.”
Even though Mr. LeBlanc is a “go with the flow” kind of guy, he still has long-term goals in the back of his mind.
“My ultimate dream is to have my song played on every radio station, but not the ones where it gets played so much you end up hating it,” he laughed. “I’d rather be the kind of musician who plays at the performing arts center in every city, rather than the guy who sells out Madison Square Garden.”
Mr. LeBlanc has embraced being in the spotlight as he has grown from a small-town musician to an artist netting three top-20 albums on iTunes, but his humble, laid-back mindset hasn’t wavered.
“I’m just kind of a regular guy,” Mr. LeBlanc smiled. “Singing was a hobby that became a job. I’ve embraced being a guy who likes writing songs, but also likes playing basketball. A lot of times in the music industry, you’re pressured to be something that you’re not. But for me? I’m just me.”
Mr. LeBlanc encourages aspiring musicians to believe in themselves, noting that he has witnessed too many talented people push their dreams to the side.
“You never know how things will play out” Mr. LeBlanc said, reflecting on the first time he saw one of his favorite musicians, Jamie Cullum, perform at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, a show that he says changed his life. Little did he know he would open for Mr. Cullum 10 years later in Los Angeles.
Mr. LeBlanc’s best advice to budding musicians is simple: “Live in the moment. You only have one life, so if you want to chase something, chase it while you can.”
Jeff LeBlanc will perform at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Friday, June 9, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $28. Call 631-288-1500 or visit whbpac.org.
on Jun 2, 2017