Brightest Young Things

all words: Erin Holmes
all photos: Ryan Kelly

So winter dumped some snow on us this weekend, not without those gusting winds that make walking around DC hurt my face even with scarves wrapped around my head. And if that wasn’t enough to dip my mood a bit, I think we all [should have] shed a tear when Whitney Houston was announced dead at 48 years young. Although I claimed that a show like Kathleen Edwards last week could change my outlook on 2012 for the better, I found myself at Black Cat on Saturday night once again discouraged with face wind-burn, asking a female artist to bring me some warmth and comfort.

That being said: Sharon Van Etten ain’t no Kathleen Edwards. In her adorably cute and non-intimidating manner, she’s a fucking rock star. Van Etten stood up there donning a gray sweater, side-bangs, an acoustic guitar, and proceeded to break the hearts of all in attendance.

You may have been hearing more of Van Etten lately—in the past month I’ve been able to stream her new album on NPR, see her perform on Jimmy Fallon, watch more performances via NPR and XPN plus a take-away show, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. She’s been promoting the new album Tramp— just released this past week and already well-received by critics and fans— so it was great timing for a sold out show at the Black Cat, the second stop of her tour.

The timing also benefited opener Shearwater, a band with its own new buzz and album Animal Joy set to release this week. After a powerful set from the 5-piece outfit, showing off their sumptuous electro-folk arrangements topped off with Jonathan Meiburg’s boisterous vocal performance, people rushed to the merch table to pick up an early copy of that upcoming LP. The night’s end brought a line to the merch table that simulated the line for coat check, which says a lot for a show during snowfall. But why not bring home the new efforts of both of these amazing acts?

It admittedly wasn’t mind-blowing from the start of Van Etten’s set (opener “Warsaw” from the new album had its issues, perhaps technical difficulties?), but it got there for me as early as song two: new single “Serpents” perfectly exemplifies her subtle, effortless power at the microphone. The crowd however didn’t get fully into it until song four or five, when the left side bar’s chatter finally died down. She didn’t seem to break a sweat or move from a solid stance for the entirety of her performance; yet, a distinct, raw energy still surged through the audience. Not too much dancing at this show outside of the first couple rows, only the occasional swaying and churning of my (and I assume others’) insides. Accompanying vocals from Heather Woods Broderick notably proved crucial to that surging sound, creating droning harmonies with Van Etten that rival the other top indie-fembots out there today.

Sharon Van Etten’s Tramp came to life on Saturday night since ten of the thirteen-song setlist mostly sampled from the fresh album—highlights included “Give Out,” “Magic Chords,” “Leonard,” and “All I Can”… I could probably name most of the set so I’ll stop there. But other nuances and moments made the show all the more memorable. First and foremost, the sound team was on point. Next, Van Etten makes up for lack-of-movement with her casual banter, giving great little intros to songs (e.g., new song “Kevin’s” is apparently “about quitting smoking after breaking up with somebody, it’s very hard”) and exchanging pleasantries with the people up front, commenting on someone’s dancing during “Leonard” as specifically “why we go to live shows! …We can’t relive that, this is ours to share, so thank you.” Van Etten also asked everyone to take videos of an old B-side rarity, the beautiful “Life Of Its Own” (or was it “Life Of HIS Own?”…not sure).

Two songs from 2010’s ‘Epic’ rounded out the set with gorgeous looks into her past effort, the pulsating “Peace Signs” got the beginning of the set going while encore “Love More” gave a chilling close to the night, before we returned to battling the elements outside of the Black Cat refuge.

Not exactly the warm and fuzzy feeling I wanted to get from my trip to the Black Cat, but afterwards I realized that the stirring, introspective, heartbreaking performance from Van Etten & Co. was definitely more what the evening called for. Sharon Van Etten: genuine, appreciative, easy-going, graceful, but BAD ASS. I promise you. She also vowed to learn “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” before the end of her tour… so look forward to THAT, future show-goers.

SET LIST

• Warsaw*
• Serpents*
• Give Out*
• Peace Signs+
• Kevin’s*
• Ask*
• Life of Its (His?) Own+*
• Magic Chords*
• Leonard*
• In Line*
• All I Can*
• I’m Wrong*

ENCORE

• Love More+

(*= Tramp (2012), + = Epic (2011), +*=B-side)

Previously in Live DC:

• 5/22: LiveDC: Spirit Animal @ Red Palace
• 5/22: LiveDC: Astra Via @ Black Cat
• 5/22: LiveDC: Father John Misty @ Rock & Roll Hotel
• 5/22: LiveDC: Drive-By Truckers and Lucinda Williams @ Merriweather
• 5/22: Photos: Summer Camp takes the "Ladies of Town" Drag Show
• 5/22: LiveDC: Penguin Prison & Class Actress @ RNR Hotel
• 5/21: LiveDC: James Morrison @ 930 Club
• 5/21: Photos: Que Sera L'Anniversaire @ Napoleon
• 5/21: LiveDC: La Sera/ Beach Week @ Red Palace
• 5/21: LiveDC: The Black Keys & Arctic Monkeys @ Merriweather Post Pavilion