It was springtime in Brooklyn at Union Pool, but it felt like it could’ve easily been some fever dream – such is the soul-melting effect of hearing Jessica Pratt. Effortlessly, she expresses themes at what seems like an amplified whisper, of memory and passing time; personal hymns that are so engrossing, the sold out crowd seemed to be moving in trance-like unison.
Every song seemed so light and easy to absorb with vocals and acoustic guitar backed up by selective moments of electric guitar, providing extra texture to the sound. Though underneath the airiness, lays deep imagery in her lyrics, a mix of traditional and contemporary, which makes her music evade the comparisons to the freak-folk artists of the past.
She was visually captivating to watch too, though that’s a little harder to explain, as she sat on a wooden chair upon the stripped down stage – it was really all that was needed to enchant.
As the night progressed, it was exciting to think of the stages she may be on in the future, and how special it is to be present to something so unique.
Article: Jacques Lang