‘Tis the season to be jolly and the sold-out crowd at Angel Olsen‘s Dec. 1 performance at Thalia Hall – the first of three shows presented by 93XRT at the Chicago venue – found comfort and joy in the beautiful, yet sad, songs composed and performed by the incomparable singer-songwriter.
“This is a sad song. That’s why y’all came tonight, right,” said Olsen before playing “This Is How It Works” late in the set.
The twangy, somber song came at the end of a section of the setlist highlighting music from Olsen’s 2022 country-inspired album, Big Time. You could hear a pin drop as Olsen and her band performed the beautiful ballad, “Ghost On,” while “Go Home,” beginning with a stark drum beat, built into an immersive sonic experience driven by Olsen’s flawless vocals. During “Right Now,” Olsen became momentarily out-of-sync after interacting with a fan mid-song creating a charming moment of levity amid the raw emotions felt in every note.
There was an ease and freedom present throughout Olsen’s entire set often derived from her interactions with the crowd. After a prompt from a fan, a taco bar storyline was added to “Shut Up Kiss Me,” which ended with a delicious rock jam. Elsewhere, Olsen took song suggestions from the crowd assuring everyone that while “Sister” wouldn’t be played early in the night, the My Woman favorite would make an appearance before the show concluded.
Elsewhere, Olsen put down her guitar in favor of the keys during “Spring” and, later, “Sweet Dreams” showcased her vocal range from her command of forceful rock phrases to expertly executed, effortless yodels. Along with “talking a little shit” with everyone throughout her set, Olsen also expressed gratitude for fans as well as the evening’s opener, Oak Park’s own Kara Jackson.
“We’ve been able to play a couple shows with her [Jackson] and get to know her throughout the fall and it’s been really special. So, I want to thank her and her family,” she said. “Fuck yeah, she fucking rocks, man.”
Jackson also shared a little love during her set, saying, “I’m really honored to be here today at one of my favorite venues in the city opening for the amazing Angel Olsen.”
After beginning with a cover of Karen Dalton’s “Right, Wrong or Ready,” Jackson played a handful of songs from her poetic and complex debut album, Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?. “No Fun,” “Therapy,” and “Lily,” which was dedicated to Jackson’s friend Lily, the song’s namesake who was present in the crowd, connected with audience members.
Fans may have made the journey to Thalia Hall to enjoy sad songs, but when peppered with Olsen’s affable energy and silly sense of humor, sad songs have never provided more happiness.
Check out photos of Angel Olsen – and Kara Jackson – performing at Thalia Hall below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Angelolsen.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
