Last Tuesday night, I caught the first of Courtney Barnett’s completely sold out three-night run at Bowery Ballroom. Her first proper album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (out via Mom + Pop Music) is one of the year’s best records. I don’t know if there’s any artist hotter than Barnett at the moment, and mind you, it’s not the type of buzz that comes and goes like a passing phase. This is the sustainable, real deal sort of excitement that has pegged Barnett as one of the brightest voices in music. It’s scary to think that she’s only getting started.
She brought along fellow Australian singer-songwriter Darren Hanlon along for the ride. His set was a joyous collection of smart and witty songs with a humorous nature to it, which made it clear why Barnett brought him along. This was my introduction to Hanlon, but what a wonderful meeting it was. I hope to see him again in the future. It’s also worth noting that he was cool enough to engage with the crowd, and brave enough to ask all the photographers in the front row what publications they were shooting for (I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before!).
Next, I finally got my chance to see Seattle quartet Chastity Belt live, after quite a few months of anticipation. Their new record Time To Go Home was released earlier this year via Hardly Art, and has been a lot of well deserved praise. The women of Chastity Belt were having a ball on stage opening for Barnett and did a good job of getting the crowd warmed up with a lighthearted set of songs, most from the new record. They struggled to finished their final song but decided that the first take was enough and ended their set with that. I’ll admit, it did leave me wanting more, maybe when they come back around to New York to play Baby’s All Right on June 16.
After selling out three straight nights at Bowery, Barnett booked her next New York performance, a much less intimate show at Terminal 5 in July. It’s a sign that she really has amassed quite a dedicated following. Knowing this, I had even more appreciation for getting to see her at Bowery, especially considering I had previously caught her at Webster Hall and Firefly. Barnett’s performance last week not only was the best that I’ve seen from her yet, but truly one of the finest that I’ve seen in all of 2015.
The amazing thing about Barnett is just how easy going and loveable she is in every way. In her music, lyrics, and personality. She’s a complete and wholesome package that has this calm and relatable demeanor to her that just connects with an audience. But don’t let it fool you, she knows how to bring the rock, in a natural and organic way.
These days her band has been trimmed to a three-piece (she had an additional guitarist at Webster), a perfect fit for her sneakingly powerful rock tunes that sneak up on you and pack a hefty punch. Such was seen on her album’s lead single, “Pedestrian At Best,” which was indeed the suspected highlight of the night. In between all of her anthems, she added covers of The Breeders’ “Cannonball,” and The Lemonheads’ “Being Around.” There wasn’t a less than exceptional moment throughout the evening.
After the show, everyone I spoke to was left with the same level of amazement as myself. You don’t sell out three shows at Bowery if you don’t got the talent to spare, but I don’t know if any of us were prepared for what we witnessed. The amazing Courtney Barnett keeps finding new ways to amaze us. I just may have to find my way to her show at Terminal 5. I’m sure it will be just as epic.
Courtney Barnett Setlist:
1. Canned Tomatoes (Whole)
2. Elevator Operator
3. Lance Jr
4. An Illustration of Loneliness (Sleepless in New York)
5. Small Poppies
6. Dead Fox
7. Depreston
8. Debbie Downer
9. Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party
10. Avant Gardener
11. Kim’s Caravan
12. Cannonball (The Breeders Cover)
13. Pedestrian at Best
Encore:
14. Being Around (The Lemonheads Cover)
15. Pickles From The Jar
16. History Eraser
Darren Hanlon:
Chastity Belt:
Courtney Barnett:
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