LUCY DACUS SETLIST
QUINN CHRISTOPHERSON SETLIST
HERE AND THERE FESTIVAL TOUR DATES AUG 09 st. louis, mo the factory AUG 10 cleveland, oh the agora AUG 12 harrisburg, pa harrisburg university at xl live AUG 13 north adams, ma mass moca AUG 14 syracuse, ny beak & skiff apple orchards AUG 16 chicago, il salt shed AUG 20 portland, or edgefield AUG 21 redmond, wa marymoor park AUG 26 stanford, ca frost amphitheater at stanford AUG 28 san diego, ca humphrey’s concerts by the bay AUG 31 dallas, tx the factory in deep ellum SEP 01 austin, tx acl live at the moody theater SEP 03 denver, co mission ballroom |
“I got lost somewhere between Here And There, I’m not sure what the town was called” – Courtney Barnett “Scotty Says” (2012 song)
As indie singer-songwriter-guitarist Courtney Barnett first started playing shows, she drove long distances through the Australian countryside, passing through numerous small towns before arriving at the next bigger city. She would later realize that these towns were filled with community, experience, and stories. That journeying instinct has culminated in her organizing and curating the Here and There Festival, a 15-stop show with a rotating lineup of almost two dozen total artists, that would begin in Kansas City at The Midland Theater.
Barnett has also owned a label (Milk! Records) for a decade so she also has curated a limited-cassette/digital compilation in conjunction with the tour, to raise money for organizations supporting reproductive justice, with all profits going towards the National Network of Abortion Funds and Advocates For Youth. Pre-order it here.
Additionally, non-profit Sounds of Saving are tour partners- their mission uses the connection to music as a direct path to mental well-being. The group on-site also highlighted the recent implementation of the 988 number to a network of suicide/crisis lifeline call centers. Pride Haven were also on-site at the Kansas City show – SAVE, Inc.’s overnight shelter who offer a welcoming environment for transition-aged 18-24 youth, facing homelessness.
The music began with rising Anchorage singer-songwriter Quinn Christopherson, whose debut full-length, Write Your Name in Pink will be released September 16 for a half-hour set, accompanied by only his guitarist and beginning with the title track from his I Am Bubblegum EP. “My family has been telling stories forever, and this is how I tell mine”, Christopherson explained after the new “Celine”, a touching song about his mother.
Christopherson was verbally pleased to be playing indoors again after numerous outdoor shows and “2005”, which included several throwback references (17 years ago?!, kinda made us feel old!) and pined for a simpler time. “I do like who I am today” Christopherson admitted after their final number, “...it’s an old song”.
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As the analog home movies began rolling on-screen, we knew it was time for an hour-long set from singer/songwriter Lucy Dacus, who we caught headlining in Lawrence back in February.
We were just happy to see Dacus upright and recovered, as she spent several shows singing and playing on her back, after slipping some discs but still determined to carry on performing.
We first caught Dacus live in Spring 2018 and have proudly watched her grow into a performer of more confidence and watched her fan base grow exponentially as well. 2021’s “Home Video” remains her latest full-length (and a VHS graphic rolled on-screen between songs), with a few new singles released since. The same band as previous accompanied her, including secret weapon, guitarist Jacob Blizard and though things started more solemn with 2021’s “Triple Dog Dare”, tempo would soon pick up.
Though the set was an abridged version of her headlining set in February, it still sounded fresh and relevant, especially to the loyal fans that hang on her every word, with numerous traveling from around the country to see this opening date. The crowd responded well early to 2018’s “Addictions” which offers the great conflicting lyric, “You've got a sense of adventure and a penchant for comfort that keeps you at home”.
“This is what a theater should look like” Dacus said, looking around, also remembering a very early date at the venue opening for Houndmouth. “Did anyone here go to vacation bible school?” she asked before launching into “VBS” as a crowd roar went up, “Predictable…!” she quipped.
Recent two-minute single, “Kissing Lessons” (which Dacus described as “a little gay song”) was played as the video played behind the band, then the group launched into a slowed and atmospheric version of Cher’s “Believe”, stripping away all the dance beats and auto-tune vocals, leaving the longing of the song’s lyrics exposed. The still-powerful 2018 song “Night Shift” would end the set, with many singing along to the heartbreaking but empowered lyrics.
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As colleague Vu has noted previous, we’ve had Melbourne native Courtney Barnett on our radar for a decade, first praising her debut two EPs in 2013. We saw her in Chicago in February 2014 (sold out), Varsity Theater in June 2014 (Sold Out), Rock the Garden in June 2015, Desert Daze in October 2017, Courtney Barnett & Kurt Vile in October 2017 (Sold Out), Surly Brewing Festival in July 2018 and Rock the Garden 2019, so ahem, we have some history.
Her latest full-length is last November’s Things Take Time, Take Time (on Mom+Pop) and she began her eighty-minute headlining set with the first two songs from the new record, “Rae Street” and “Sunfair Sundown” before elevating things with her breakout single, 2015’s “Avant Gardener”.
Only accompanied by bassist Bones Sloane and drummer Dave Mudie, the sound was still big with Barnett not saying very much between songs (as usual, so no mention of fellow Australian Olivia Newton-John, who died earlier that day).
Her stream of consciousness style lyrics and irrefutable guitar skills made for a mesmerizing performance in mostly minimal lighting. 2021’s “Turning Green” turned things slightly more funky, with Barnett even singing as she played cowbell then “Here’s the Thing” had her confessing, “I'm not afraid of heights, maybe I'm just scared of falling.”
“Any real estate agents here? This song’s for you...it’s a happy song” she remarked before 2015’s “Depreston” and she described the new “If I Don't Hear from You Tonight” as “a love sing” asking if anyone in the crowd was on a first date.
The end of the main set would really ramp up with an energetic “Pedestrian at Best” and the forward-chugging “Write a List of The Things to Look Forward To”, followed by a two-song encore beginning with the Dylan-esque “Oh the Night”, the new album’s closing track, where Barnett harmonized with Christopherson, who came back on stage to lend a vocal hand.
The show ended ideally with road song “Before You Gotta Go” and Barnett assuring the crowd “you’re always on my mind” and the feeling seemed to be mutual with so many singing along.
With a touring festival that promotes both wandering and inclusion, it may seem too conflicting, but based on the first tour stop and the roster of so many musically interesting artists, The Here and There Festival seems like a show worth getting lost in.
(click on any image to enlarge and see in full)
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| john c (johnc@weheartmusic.com) ♥ weheartmusic.com ♥ twitter.com |
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