(Photo Credit: Sarah Rudy)
We recruited singer/songwriter/guitarist/musician/artist extraordinaire Sarah Rudy of Hello June to journey to Duke University and witness one of her favorite artists live, Adrienne Lenker! Buckle up for this fantastic glimpse of a musician on a musician courtesy of Sarah Rudy of Hello June! (FMI on Sarah Rudy and Hello June visit: https://www.wearehellojune.com/)
I had the pleasure of catching Adrianne Lenker on the Duke University campus (in the Page Auditorium) this past November. The campus is absolutely stunning - a perfect "setting the scene" for the show. Nick Hakim (on piano) and Josefin Runsteen (on violin), who both played on Adrianne's latest release, 'Bright Future,' accompanied. Just as they did on the album, the pair add intertwined and vulnerable harmonies, as well as rich textural layers with their respective instruments. Suzanne Vallie, a California singer-songwriter opened up the evening with her stripped-down piano-centric set. Adrianne played two shows on that day - a matinee, as well as the evening show. The evening show was the one I attended. When I learned that they were both sold out shows, I wasn't surprised, as I feel pretty strongly that she is one of our generation's greatest songwriters.
Suzanne Vallie, who Adrianne credits as having songs that have gotten her through some tough moments, warmed the stage with her delicate, self-reflecting songs. Her storytelling presented moments of joy and sadness, a very appropriate precursor to the evening's main event. Next, Adrianne, Josefin, and Nick take the stage and the mood feels light. Adrianne positions herself with her guitar, leaning into the mic as she chuckles, telling the audience that she can't stop thinking about a funny moment they just shared right before stepping on stage. The audience laughs with her, as they've been there, hanging with their friends, sharing precious, silly moments together. She has a way of doing that. I notice two, blue and yellow lava lamps warmly glowing and very subtle stage lights highlighting their spots on the stage - they begin to settle in. She immediately feels approachable. Some songs were hypnotic, like "Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You" (Big Thief) - where you feel as if you immediately took a deep breath and were able to fully let it out. Adrianne's ability to casually breathe life into the air surrounding every person in the theatre was absolutely impeccable and at times intimidating. Even songs held up only by her voice and guitar alone felt three-dimensional and super-saturated with emotion. Something to note as a songwriter myself. Something to look up to.
The show felt akin to a first day of an anticipated class - everyone there seemed eager to be there; eager to learn; eager to take stimulus in and process it. Adrianne makes it seem easy as she is more than able to reach far down into the depths of our psyche, stirring something more than a simply a feeling. Her authenticity, and her emotive, open spirit invites the listener to meet their thoughts where they are, and calls for the listener to be as equally soft and forgiving to themselves and those that have once hurt them. She reminds the listener with every song sung, that perfection is never the key, but rather, opening ourselves up to feeling something is the goal. Her songs remind us that sometimes change is beautiful and sometimes change is grotesque and difficult. But the reminder is necessary, and I am convinced that the level of depth and authenticity in her communication is something that we are yearning for in today's overly saturated, content-driven society.
Although this was my first time experiencing an Adrianne Lenker performance, I have seen Big Thief in the past. Watching Adrianne in this context though - with broken down, quiet arrangements that she and she alone is steering, was quite a gift. "I loved you and I don't regret how we passed the time - drinking coffee, drinking wine." Even the simplest statements are meaningful. While Adrianne and her guitar carried and guided the set, the instrumentation on this series of shows was a beautifully rich palette - both skillful and texturally perfect. Nick added piano to much of the songs, including, "Simulation Swarm," which moved with momentum with seemingly fierce intention. Songs like, "Zombie Girl" which nearly melted into the ether, felt relaxed and perfect behind Adrianne's story to tell. Josefin Runsteen's perfect violin textural choices was inspiring throughout, and the harmonies from both Nick and Josefin felt as if they were always there, just waiting for an ear to listen. Much of the time, it felt like you were invited into the living room or a small, intimate recording studio. Nothing felt overly rehearsed or produced - but it did feel as though each person carried the responsibility of being present in every moment.
The beautiful evening closes with an encore of two songs - "heavy focus" and "Steamboat." I am positive that no one wanted the night to end, as she had the entire crowd in the palm of her hand. In the middle of "Steamboat", Adrianne inserts the commentary, "still wish I was better at being alone!" and the crowd quickly laughs with her and just as swiftly slips back into intently listening. Thank you, Adrianne, for meeting us where we are. This show was a gift.
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