Outside of jazz, perhaps, how often does an artist begin a set with a clarinet?
The answer might be the same type of artist who topped many year-end lists in 2023 with The Returner, an album that earned a Grammy for Best American Roots Performance for the single “Eve Was Black.” Russell’s lyrics often embrace activism, and an all-female backing band called The Rainbow Coalition may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Convictions, however, paired with exceptional musical instincts, boundless charisma, and a captivating live presence should be.
She first caught my attention opening for my wife’s favorite artist, Hozier, last year, sending me to Google afterward so I could pretend I already knew who Allison Russell was when my wife inevitably asked. She did. Here she was again opening for Sarah McLachlan’s Atlanta stop for her Better Broken Tour, another artist on my wife’s very short list of “I’ll go see…” performers. Once again, Russell was the artist my wife couldn’t stop talking about afterward.
Russell’s all-too-brief set opened with two songs from The Returner before shifting to four selections from her forthcoming album, In the Hour of Chaos, released July 10. While the record explores themes of alienation, isolation, and dread, it does so in a way that ultimately leads the listener to feel hopeful. The video below for “Cold April” only hints at the vibe she casts on a stage, but it is an excellent introduction to what is shaping up to be one of the year’s must hear releases.
The photos capture some of the spirit of Russell’s performance, especially her infectious chemistry with bassist Ganessa James. For all the rehearsals and meticulous planning that go into a professional stage production, the joy onstage felt completely genuine. I look forward to catching Russell when she headlines, and, says the photo addict in me, when the staging presents her in a proper light. She deserves them.
Setlist:
