Julia Jacklin headlined at The Parish on Saturday with Christian Lee Hutson opening the show. These two folk-playing song-writing masters seized the full moon energy to entrance the audience in joviality despite their somber songs.
Christian Lee Hutson played a solo set on the acoustic guitar, most notably was his rendition of “I Just Can’t Fucking Do It Anymore.” A gentleman dressed in all black with a white collar, he countered the melancholy vibes of his lyrics with playful interactions with the audience between songs.
Julia Jacklin began her set with “Body” from her latest album crushing, released earlier this year. She appears as a humble angel, a siren from Sydney in a vintage plaid skirt and her hair clipped behind her ear. Her humility and humor complement her striking vulnerability. She shares with the audience that her music career started with her performing Evanescence’s “Wake Me Up Inside” at the high school talent show.
The band moved into “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You.” They’ve been saving the disco ball for this moment. The dancing spinning lights illuminate the room with blues and greens as soon as the electric guitar introduces the melody. The lights lighten the punch of the convicting lyrics: “don’t know how to keep loving you/ now that I know you so well.” Be careful thinking about that one.
She encored with “Comfort” and I kind of resented her for it because I didn’t want to cry, but this song…the way her voice trembles, the slow soft chord progressions, the words she strings together and how they all coalesce to gently assault your heart with the truth. A song of affirmations following the pain of breaking up, Julia sings, “You’ll be okay. You’ll be all right. You’ll get well soon and sleep through the night,” and in the next verse, “He’s gonna thrive. He’ll be just fine.” It’s truly a positive song dressed in an achy tone. No matter where you are, you’re not alone in pain. Even angels like Julia Jacklin have experienced heart ache as part of our human condition, and her art aids to heal herself but also those who listen.
Thank you, Julia, for your vulnerable display of affection and art. You inspire tender hearts to trust and stay tender even after they’ve been bruised.
-Melissa Green