Waxahatchee at Hammersmith Apollo

Waxahatchee

Merce Lemon

Hammersmith Apollo, 11 June 2015

Katie Crutchfield and her incredible band returned to London for their biggest show to date at the historic Hammersmith Apollo and wow, did she manage to fill the grandiose venue with beautiful sounds and such good feeling!

It's been a year since Waxahatchee blew me away at their sold-out show at the Kentish Town Forum (and funnily enough it's almost exactly ten years since I first saw her at the Electric Ballroom), so I was expecting good things tonight and, even though this one wasn't sold out (although it may have on the night), there was a big crowd from the start but I still managed to get a nice spot at the front, which was a relief after straining to see during the Sturgill Simpson show at the same venue last March. My view was superb tonight and it just goes to show what getting the right spot can do and really completely change your experience of a show.

First up was the support act Merce Lemon, which I had thought was a band name but it's actually the name of a singer-songwriter, who helpfully tells us she is from Pittsburgh, although the three piece band backing her is absolutely superb, I must say. 

She began with quite a quiet track, Crow, from her latest album Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild (great title), that slowly built, and she reminded me a little of Gillian Welch but also Karly Hartzman from Wednesday (funnily enough I have since discovered that Wednesday and MJ Lenderman's lap steel player Xandy Chelmis played on her record while Colin Miller, who also plays with Lenderman, also produced one of the songs).

There is definitely an Americana feel to her music but there were also lots of beautifully noisy guitar solos (courtesy of the excellent Reid Magitte looking snazzy in a cardigan and skirt ensemble) coupled with her gorgeous melancholy, lonesome-sounding voice. Annoyingly, during the more quiet parts of the songs you could audibly hear a lot of talking through the venue, which was a shame, because she was a great fit and her ten song set was fantastic throughout.

Most of the tracks came from the new album (which I would have bought but it was all sold out at the merch desk - they said they only had four copies left) but Lemon and her band also gave us a really beautiful cover of Bonnie "Prince" Billy's classic track I See A Darkness, which sounded wonderful. 

She ended on the lovely title track from the album, which sounded dreamy and wistful. It really was a great set and I'd love to see her in a smaller venue with a more appreciative crowd.

The stage at the Apollo is absolutely huge, so it was strange to see all Waxhatchee's equipment spread over it. Even though Crutchfield has five people backing her (including bassist, Eliana Athayde, drummer Spencer Tweedy, Cole Berggren on piano and banjo, Colin Croom on pedal steel and Clay Frankel on lead guitar), it still didn't fill the stage. This was apparently her biggest show yet which was funny because when I saw her at the Electric Ballroom back in 2015 she said that was her biggest ever show: look how far she's come!

Back then she was quite a shy performer, closing her eyes and concentrating on singing and playing her guitar. It's quite a contrast to the brilliant show woman she's become now. She once again makes her entrance when the band has already taken their places (once again to the Dolly Parton tune Here I Am: always a nice touch to start with Dolly!), and immediately launches into 3 Sisters.

Crutchfield looks amazing, like a glamorous old school wrestler or a superhero even, wearing a black swimsuit over red tights, her long hair flowing and silver make-up sparkling on her face. She grabs the microphone and struts up and down the stage and dances, while she joyfully sings "if you're not living, you're dying". The whole audience immediately lights up, as she beams while singing out to them.

Again, like last time, she alternates between playing acoustic guitar or taking the mike and wandering across the stage, which is lovely because it gives everyone the chance to see her perform. For one song though, Crimes Of The Heart, she instead comes and sits on a stool in front of me (last time when I saw her she sang this sat on the edge of the stage but I guess this way, more people can see her better), and crosses her legs and sings her heart out. It's such a cool moment.

The set is essentially the same as last time but with a few songs missing (Hell, Bored and 365, much to the disappointment of one fan who kept calling for it) and in their place some really lovely additions that I was thrilled to hear, including the single Mud (I adore the recorded version as it's a great song and essentially another duet with MJ Lenderman), which sounded fantastic live, and even more thrillingly, an absolutely perfect cover of Kathleen Edwards' classic song Six O'Clock News. I've always loved Edwards but it also made me realise how she has led the way for artists like Crutchfield. I hope a collaboration is on the cards!

Elsewhere there were a couple of Plains songs, the album she made with Jess Williamson (I do hope we get another), and I will never get tired of hearing Problem With It (an absolute classic) or Hurricane ( no Line Of Sight this time though) and of course, Right Back To It, the absolute best song of last year, sounded glorious, with guitarist Clay Frankel ably filling in for MJ Lenderman (he's been popping up and singing his part at festival dates with Waxahatchee and I think I would have died of happiness if this had happened tonight but alas it wasn't to be, but it still sounded amazing).

Like last time, the main set ended on the title track of her excellent last album, Tiger's Blood, which beautifully built to its rousing, singalong finale. Of course there was an encore though and when the band returned, Crutchfield said they wanted to do something special and play a new song. the band then played Next To Me, which was the bonus track on the Record Store Day release of the Mud/Much Ado About Nothing single. I thought maybe this was its live debut but apparently they have played it a few times before (not many though) including in Bristol the night before, but it was great to hear something different.

They ended on the aforementioned Much Ado About Nothing (I don't know how this song was left off the record as it is so good) and Fire, one of her poppiest and most joyful songs leaving us all on an absolute high, as she roamed the stage, seemingly trying to reach everyone in the audience as she kept walking to the edge of every part of the stage. Again she waved to say goodbye, and left like the absolute star she is, as the band played on. 

Another absolutely glorious show, with a fantastic audience and Crutchfield and her amazing band managing to make the huge Hammersmith Apollo feel intimate and like they were playing just for me and every single person there. I'm so glad I was there to experience it.