Sharon Van Etten at Scala

Sharon Van Etten
Exitmusic
Scala, 16 May 2012

Sharon Van Etten looks thrilled and completely overwhelmed that she's standing in front of a sold-out audience in London. "We're a bunch of nobodies, who can't believe a bunch of somebodies came out to see us," she says sweetly. It's not a Sally Field "you love me, you really love me" moment either, Van Etten giggles like a kid at Christmas whose long wait has finally paid off. And things are finally paying off for her, after three superb albums, people are starting to take notice of her and catch on to her unique and beautiful brand of folk-infused rock. Not only is the Scala filled to the brim but there's even some American fans beside me who have traveled all the way from the States to see her, one saying he had tried to see her in New York but her shows were sold out, so obviously it's not just a London thing.

Van Etten in the flesh looks a lot younger than her 31 years, when she smiles she actually has the sweetness and innocence of a teenager, but her maturity comes through in her music: tales of broken hearts and painful relationships and coming through the other side, made even more poignant and touching by the sound of her unusual but appealing mournful voice. Dressed in high heels, a black lace shirt and a pencil skirt, she looks more ready for a day at the office than a night rocking out, with only her tattoos betraying her rock musician side.

Opening with the gorgeously building All I Can from her new album Tramp (destined to be one of the year's best), the first thing that is apparent is that Sharon's band is pretty kick-ass. Supplemented by a male guitarist and a female keyboard player (who swap bass guitar duties throughout the night), she is also backed by a phenomenal drummer, who even causes one audience member to scream out what an amazing musician he is, leaving Sharon looking completely delighted.

Van Etten's music is definitely on the sadder side of things but in between songs she and her band are full of good cheer, making jokes about her new roadie, telling stories of misheard lyrics and even some banter with the audience: she's particularly amused when someone requests the song My Sharona, saying it was a nickname for her at school (me too, Sharon, me too). This lovely light-hearted approach leaves a good feeling with the crowd and is surprising but an even bigger pleasant surprise is just how fantastic and moving the songs sound live. The show is obviously heavy on material from Tramp, the songs sounding even more epic and moving yet losing none of their personal feel but her older material also goes down a treat. One of my favourite moments comes when Tornado, from her debut Because I Was In Love, is requested by an audience member and spontaneously played alone on stage with just her guitar.

Saving the best for last though, she pulls out two of her greatest tracks for the encore: the wonderful, obviously Fleetwood Mac-inspired country strum of One Day (which struck me so much hearing it live I haven't been able to stop playing it since) and the truly powerful Love More, which ended in swathes of feedback. Although I knew Sharon Van Etten's records were great and, having interviewed her, that she was a truly lovely person, I don't think I realised just what an amazing artist she is until I saw her live. It's made me love her albums 100 times more and incredibly excited to see what she does next.

Also on the bill tonight is the dark, atmospheric sounds of Exitmusic, a New York duo made up of Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church. With her 20s-style blouse and long straight skirt, Aleksa looks like she could be an extra in Downton Abbey and funnily enough, thinking she looked familiar, I searched her name and discovered that she actually also an actress who plays bohemian artist Angela Darmody on Scorsese's fantastic 20s-set TV series Boardwalk Empire. The music couldn't be more removed though, reminding me at times of Jesus And Mary Chain meets Mazzy Star with Aleksa's unique deep vocals, like a David Lynch movie come to life. It's beautiful, noirish stuff, often chilling and beautifully sombre. I really couldn't have asked for a better opening act and a better bill overall.

Exitmusic