Angel Olsen’s performance Saturday night at the Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco was one the most impressive performances I have seen in a long while. On the first night of her national tour, Olsen captivated the audience with unparalleled energy. Her songs sounded better than on record — a hard feat to achieve considering how impressive Olsen’s debut EP, Strange Cacti, and her debut album, Half Way Home, were.
Olsen, backed by her band, made up of two former Lionlimb members and a cellist, brought a new energy to her typically minimalist recordings. The addition of a bassist, guitarist and cellist made all the difference, bringing songs like “Miranda,” previously performed with just Olsen on guitar and vocals, to their full potential. Towards the end of the set, the bassist and drummers left, leaving just Olsen and her cellist — a beautiful compliment to Olsen’s simple guitar and chilling voice.
The most exciting part of Olsen’s set came halfway through the performance, with “Sweet Dreams,” a grungier and less folky song. When Olsen and her band reached the crescendo, the strobe lights began to flash, fog poured from the ceilings and Olsen, singing “on your own” moved her voice into a near howl. For the encore, Olsen came out alone and began to play an older song, “California.” A minute in, she forgot the words and invited the audience to remind her of them.
“Play a Joni Mitchell song!” a fan yelled. “If you want a Joni Mitchell song, go see Joni Mitchell,” joked Olsen before rounding out a fabulous performance with a 7-minute long “Lonely Universe.”
Aside from her impressive performance, Olsen was clearly enjoying herself — laughing and joking with the audience. “You’re making me nervous,” Olsen said. “I’ve never played a show in San Francisco surrounded by so many strangers!”
In a room packed with strangers, Olsen stunned. Her performance was powerful and chilling to the bone. There were no special effects and no manipulation of her voice. It was, simply put, an amazing performance by a wonderfully talented up-and-coming artist.
Contact Samuel Avishay at [email protected].