Back in the day, wow, at least a month ago, my two big big big albums were Lydia Loveless and Angel Olsen –an opinion that hasn’t been radically modified since then. I haven’t seen either singer on stage yet so I went in search and managed to get a tix to catch Lydia opening for Old 97’s on June 3rd but still Angel was beyond me. The one upcoming gig I noticed was at LPR and way sold out and nothing on the secondary market.
I managed to miss a mid-February Amex presale and an on sale for a concert May 13at MHOW and only today actually noticed it at all. It was sold out maybe needless to add, she is one popular star right this minute in the indie firmaments. But Burn Your Fire For No Witness is much better than its name suggests and the deep feel brood of the songs more than willing to snap you to attention if necessary.
Live? I can’t hazard a guess. Leading a stand up bass and a guitar, her performance might put us to sleep, it is possible you has a sense of restraint and certainly the music suggests control even if the emotions don’t. But maybe, she loses it there. Word is that Angel is an intense presence on stage and so there is another reason to check her out.
Either way, the album is good enough to make her May show a must see.