Sam MacPherson who has been releasing EPs and singles since 2018, racking up hundreds of millions of streams, and finally releasing a full-length album May 2025, brought this catalog to a solo set on June 11 as part of the Neuhoff River Steps Concert Series, the free outdoor series presented by Lightning 100 Radio. The New Jersey native, now Nashville-based, stood at the base of the stairs — a makeshift amphitheater — with the Cumberland River as a backdrop in Nashville, making for an intimate setting.
Without his normal full band arrangements, MacPherson’s lyrics were able to command the attention they deserve. While the polished studio version is well worth the listen, his solo performance of “American Dream Trajectory,” a track from the same-titled May 2025 album, came across more honest and powerful in the raw of just Sam and his Fender Tele. In addition to bringing his own compositions to the stage, Sam performed a cover of fellow New Jerseyite Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” — which MacPherson had released as his own single last year. And the crowd was no stranger to the repertoire, singing along with many of the tunes, showing he has built a strong following.
Find Sam’s merch and more info at sammacphersonmusic.com.
A curated pick by Planet Mars Music Editorial Staff and crafted with the help of AI