Zola Jesus has proven time and time again that she’s one of the most prominent female voices in music today. Her latest album Taiga, just reinforces this point. The first time I saw her live was when she opened for Wolf Parade at Terminal 5 in 2010 (I think it was my first time in a photo pit ever, ha), and even then I knew that she was a real talent. Here we are four years later, and she’s certainly proven that she is here to stay.
On October 19 she graced Webster Hall with a dominant performance in support of the newly released album, with a full sit-down horn section, as well as her band, which includes a drummer and keyboardist. They opened the show with the first six songs of Tiaga in order, with the 1-2 punch of the title track and “Dangerous Days” setting the tone for an evening of emotive beauty and thensome.
Zola Jesus, whose real name is Nika Roza Danilova, moves around confidently on stage, performing with a strong stern stance and stare when she’s not giving her all on stage, spinning around and flipping her hair. The horn section made all the difference live, bringing songs such as “Hunger” to life in truly unforgettable ways. She brings the emotion to you naturally, letting the beauty sink in naturally, not forcing anything on you, letting it all hit you at once.
She sent the crowd home in the only way possible, with the finishing touches of “Vessel” and Night”, turning back the clock and reminding me of that early show. It’s amazing to see how far she’s come, and it’s exciting to wonder where else she will take us.
Find the setlist posted below, along with a photo gallery of her performance.
Setlist:
1. Taiga
2. Dangerous Days
3. Dust
4. Hunger
5. Go (Blank Sea)
6. Ego
7. Clay Bodies
8. Sea Talk
9. Lawless
10. Nail
11. Long Way Down
12. Hollow
13. It’s Not Over
Encore:
14. Vessel
15. Night
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