Sharon Van Etten walked onto the stage Sunday night at the Cat's Cradle with bright red lips and clad in a casual slouchy sweater. Without hesitation, she humbly began to set up her own equipment. After some last-minute tinkering and just as the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, the Brooklyn singer/songwriter finally launched into her raw, confessional method of storytelling, sharing the stories from her newest release, Tramp, with the quiet, but certainly appreciative, audience.
Tramp is the third chapter of Van Etten's personal story that begins with the end of a tumultuous and unsupportive relationship in Tennessee. Considering Van Etten's recent rise, you can assume that now the ex-boyfriend is probably kicking himself. Since then, each of her three albums has been a progression of heartbreak and heartache, delicately raucous outpourings that have considerable emotional reach.
Recently, Van Etten has garnered quite the widespread appeal and the New York Times directly hones in on her draw when it said, "Van Etten has found herself cornered by bearded guys who want to read her poems, teenage girls who simply need to be close to her and at least one lesbian who was outraged to discover that Van Etten isn’t gay." Those who flock to Van Etten might not exactly relate to her stories of overcoming heartbreak, but they certainly can't ignore the pure human emotion she exudes in her music. Sunday's crowd in Carrboro was representative of this — a mix of ages, genders and races — but hopefully all seeking some kind of authentic emotional connection.
The night kicked off with an energetic set from Austin, TX band Shearwater, a well-suited musical complement to Van Etten. Fronted by Jonathan Meiburg and once a side project of fellow Austin group Okkervil River, Shearwater performed a set of mostly new songs from its recent release Animal Joy. With Meiburg howling through the songs alongside the backing of the band's multi-instrumentalists, Shearwater drew almost as many fans, if not more, than Van Etten with its delectable breed of gloomy rock-pop.
Next, SVE kicked things off with "Warsaw," the hard-hitting opener from Tramp. The majority of her set consisted of songs from the latest release, and included standout performances of "Give Out" and "All I Can" that flowed directly from the soul. As she shared the stage with collaborator Heather Woods Broderick, the rough and tumble songs were transformed into breathtaking statements on broken love and the process of picking up the pieces.
In between songs, she kept things jovial with her cute and honest small talk and shared her love for all things Southern, from barbecue to banana pudding. Throughout the set, Van Etten peppered her in-between-song banter with comments like, "This song is about trying to quit smoking after breaking up with someone...double whammie," (in reference to the song "Kevin's") as well as a personal dedication to a close friend who made the trip from Asheville to see her perform. Even when Van Etten hilariously struggled with the settings on the Omnichord, the crowd joined with her laughter, sharing in the experience like a familiar friend.
As the night closed, and Van Etten returned for a two-song encore featuring "Life Of His Own," a recent B-side and "Love More" one of the most wrenching songs from 2010's epic, her voice more than captivated the crowd, just like the genuine smile she frequently flashed throughout the course of the night.
The way in which SVE laid it all out is representative of an emotional risk that few can manage while still emerging relatively unscathed. But for Van Etten, the initial scars of a failed relationship have not only provided tremendous inspiration for her material, but also allowed her to showcase her rise from the ashes. The evidence of this growth was visceral when Van Etten hit the stage Sunday, and for those in Carrboro, they were assured that she's confidently standing on her own stronger than before.
Sharon Van Etten and opening act Shearwater will continue their North American tour through the end of February. Both bands have new albums out this month, Van Etten's Tramp and Shearwater's Animal Joy.
