Julien Baker - Seattle, WA - 11/10/2021

 

It's hard to overstate just how brilliant Julien Baker's live set is. It's intimate and enormous, subtle and euphoric. It's a concert, yes, but it's more than that: it's an indelible hybrid of music and emotion that's as cathartic as it is beautiful. Suffice to say: Julien Baker, sold-out at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, was one hell of a first post-COVID show.

Julien is one of those rare artists where the live music somehow sounds even better than the records - and that's saying a lot, because from "Sprained Ankle" to "Turn Out the Lights", "Little Oblivions" to her work with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus in the supergroup Boygenius - her work is lauded and acclaimed by critics and her rapidly growing fanbase alike. And her set on this rainy Wednesday night kicked off with the transcendent album opener "Hardline", closed out with elegiac "Ziptie" and pulled from each of her previous records in between. 

One of the pivotal moments in the show was when Julien's (absolutely stellar) band leaves the stage, Julien sitting down solo at the piano. The next three tracks forged an emotional connection that gets into the bones, and I have absolutely no idea how she holds a vocal note for upwards of 10 seconds without seeming to get winded. Though all in attendance were wearing masks, I could still see teary eyes. And if you've ever experienced a Julien Baker show, you'll know why. If you haven't, well...fix that.

For our domestic readers, you've got a couple more chances to see Julien in North America this year. For our lucky European readers, you've got a whole spring tour to look forward to, and I'd recommend getting tickets now.

Live music is back, and the future of live music is Julien Baker.

Words + Photos by Bodi Hallett of Sattva Photo