Live music review: Songwriter Adrianne Lenker sold out the Paramount Theatre
Great songwriting is alive and well. With artists like Weyes Blood, Sharon Van Etten, Snail Mail, and Angel Olsen making a name for themselves as the next generation of solo artists, Big Thief‘s Adrianne Lenker has served as one of the leading charges in a new age of independent storytelling through song. The Minnesota native and Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter brought her acoustic tour to Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin for two sold-out performances, following suit to multiple capacity crowds with her full band throughout the years of their short but prolific existence. The intimate, candlelit historical setting of the theatre, where you could hear a pin drop, created a unique connection between Lenker and her audience, making for a thought-provoking experience of songs new and old on the June 10 second evening. With the release of her latest solo album, Bright Future Lenker has delivered yet another heart-wrenching gauntlet of tunes, sure to draw the misty eyes of all the indie Gen-Zers and Millennials in attendance.
The history of the Paramount Theatre spans generations. If you happen to see a show there, you can roam the halls during the intermission and pre-show to see hung photos of the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Aretha Franklin, Chris Isaak, and many more of the greats from the past of beloved figures from throughout the Austin venue’s long history. For this Paramount outing, the stage was set up like a living room, showing both performers inviting the audience into their dojo for an evening of somber, reflective music pieces with attendees hanging on every word. First up came Longview, Texas native Steve Fisher. A noted influence of Lenker’s, Fisher and his acoustic guitar showed palpable graciousness throughout his set, taking the opportunity to tell stories about the world beyond and the emotional undertones of his journey through life.
Adrianne Lenker took the stage just after 9 p.m., with the mostly younger audience taking their seats in silence, a testament to their respect and anticipation for the performance. If you’ve ever seen the critically acclaimed indie act Big Thief live, you probably know they aren’t a “Just the hits” type of unit. Each touring opportunity ignores the “We just put out this new album, let’s play most of the songs on it” mantra. This results in new material being debuted at every tour stop, showing the unending creativity of Adrianne Lenker and Co. An early set highlight came with Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You lead cut “Spud Infinity.” The audience’s singalongs during this show were reduced to whispers, a sign of their deep engagement and attentiveness to the performance. This was a coveted ceremony that required fans to pay respect to the point of sitting quietly and taking it all in.
While showcasing a folk style, Lenker’s guitar playing skills are that of someone who has been receiving musical training both conservatory and raw in nature. Each finger-picked and strummed note had a sustained resonance; you could feel every plucked string accompanied by Lenker’s Joni Mitchell-style drawl. The storytelling the singer/songwriter showcases is unmatched, making the audience engage in every lyrical stanza and rejoice in Lenker’s original music and rearrangements from her main band.
“Donut Seam,” another entry from Lenker’s new solo effort, was yet another moving moment. The Minnesota-New York artist’s guitar playing is piano-like, showing her knowledge of all the chord vocalizations imaginable, making each song a deceptively simple affair while being a fountain of musical mastery. Lenker also took a moment in the performance to request that the house lights be turned up. “Turn the stage lights down and turn the house lights as bright as the stage lights already are… I want to see who’s leaving.” Lenker joked. The evening’s headlining performing artist even acknowledged the various callouts from the audience, such as “I love you!” to which Adrianne returned the love. “You move us!” “You move me!” Lenker joyously replied.
The performance’s encore saw an acoustic rendition of Big Thief’s standalone single, “Vampire Empire,” giving the audience a chance to whisper-sing along to Lenker one last time before she departed the stage. Lenker’s two-night stand in Austin served as the launch of her solo tour, and the double-sold-out run representing a remarkable kickoff for the new-age Folk artist and her trusty guitar.
Adrianne Lenker will continue touring the US this Summer before taking a break with another North American tour leg happening in the Fall.
All photos by Caitlin King
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