On Tuesday, October 8, musician Julien Baker closed the first leg of her fall tour with an intimate concert at Brooklyn Steel, featuring special guest Lucy Dacus. The show was an unexpected addition to her New York run, which originally consisted of three sold-out nights at Webster Hall.
Tuesday’s performance was scheduled after Baker was unexpectedly forced to end her concert on the previous Sunday night early due to illness. She provided fans who attended the abbreviated concert with tickets to an additional fourth night at the nearby Brooklyn venue as a makeup show. After attending both shows, I can assuredly say that the performances of both Baker and Dacus on Tuesday night more than made up for the unfortunate circumstances of Sunday’s shortened set.
British indie rock singer Katie Malco kicked off the evening with a brief but impactful four-song set. Her stripped-down performance and raw emotional lyrics were reminiscent of Baker’s earlier work, namely her debut album Sprained Ankle; it was no surprise that her music resonated with many of Baker’s fans, myself included.
When Baker’s boygenius bandmate Lucy Dacus entered the stage as the second opener of the night, the audience erupted in applause. She began her set with an acoustic performance of “Hot & Heavy,” the lead single off of her most recent album Home Video. Dacus debuted an unreleased song during her performance and also played “Trust” as per a request by Baker, a deep cut from her first album and the oldest song in her discography. Baker and her band accompanied Dacus for the final two songs of the set, which ultimately culminated in an impassioned performance of Dacus’ hit song “Night Shift.”
Following Dacus’ standout performance, Baker returned to the stage. She entered as her band played the first notes of “Over,” an instrumental track off of her sophomore album Turn Out the Lights. There was a clear shift in the atmosphere of the venue as Baker took the stage. The audience watched in silent awe as she sang the opening lyrics of “Appointments,” clinging onto every last word she poignantly delivered as her voice rang throughout the venue.
In the brief moments between songs, Baker connected to the audience through light-hearted banter. She chatted with the audience about topics ranging from touring with her musical heroes to the WNBA finals, and she repeatedly emphasized her gratitude toward the audience for coming to the show on short notice. Her wit and friendly demeanor underscored her dark lyrics and allowed the audience to feel even more of a personal connection to the artist.
Some highlights of the night were undoubtedly the rock songs off of her latest LP Little Oblivions. The excited energy of the audience was palpable as drums echoed throughout the room and Baker played the first chord of “Bloodshot.” Baker matched the crowd’s energy as she rocked out on stage to the main riff. Another crowd favorite was “Hardline,” during which the audience sang along to vulnerable lyrics concerning Baker’s struggles with addiction and its impact on her relationships.
The night ended with Baker performing a full band arrangement of “Everybody Does,” a song that she previously performed alone on her earlier tours. The louder rendition of one of her earliest songs breathed new life into the tune and was a fittingly emotional way to cap off a powerful evening.
