“Thank you for being here,” a fan shouted at Adrianne Lenker as she began her set on the second night of two sold-out shows in Boston. “Thank you for being here,” she responded in earnest.
Lenker, famously the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the indie folk group Big Thief, released her sixth studio album Bright Future this past March. The album consists of raw, emotional, and lyrically layered compositions. Many songs refer to her previous works; others discuss difficult, topical subjects. After performing “Vampire Empire” live for the first time with the band over a year ago, the song circulated on TikTok and fans begged for its release. The song now lives on Bright Future and is a solidified fan favorite. The record’s second single, “Sadness As a Gift,” was also well-received by her audience. Her fifth solo record, aptly titled songs (2020), includes viral songs such as “anything,” “forwards beckon rebound,” “not a lot, just forever,” and “half return.” Each album exists in its own universe, yet their shared sonic and lyrical styles connect them.
Fans decked out in long skirts, bean boots, and knitted hats sat comfortably in their seats at the Boch Shubert Theater as Lenker played through the first few songs on her set, all from her newest album. “I’m nervous,” Lenker admitted. “New songs… it’s kind of hard to start playing them for the first time, but I really love those songs.” As she continued, strumming her guitar by her lonesome in the middle of a simple stage setup (instruments and her chair in the center all on top of a large antique-style rug), the audience, which consisted of teenagers, millennial hipsters, and older couples, watched in silent awe of Lenker’s performance. The technical difficulties began early on during the show but only made the audience livelier. Fans laughed along with Adrianne when the mic feedback screeched in the middle of her speaking, and when a piece of machinery was heard falling over backstage. As Lenker tuned her guitar between songs, she humored the audience. “Where am I?” The audience chuckled in response. “I’m perfectly capable,” she laughed.
One does not have to be a longtime fan or a hardcore listener of Lenker’s discography to be affected by her lyrical genius. Out of nowhere, audience members could be heard gasping at an isolated lyric that struck them to their core. At times, Lenker made fun of her own lyrics, tacking on silly ad-libs. After performing “I Was Born For Loving You,” she noted, “I feel like I can sing this song because my girlfriend has a pickup truck… 1985 Toyota one-ton… long bed…it’s really great for… I got to… she showed me a thing or two.” Lenker laughed while the audience whooped and cheered. Suddenly serious, she added, “I’d never slept in the back of a pickup truck under the stars in the desert. It’s such a cool feeling. The moon is a night light.”
Shortly after, Lenker brought one of her “best friends in the whole world,” Mary Remington, to the stage. Remington has one record available to stream, titled In Embudo, which was released in 2023. The two had been roommates when Lenker lived in Jamaica Plain, nested between Brookline and West Roxbury in Boston. “Hello, thanks, Adrianne,” Remmington said as she walked onstage. “We’re gonna sing one of Mary’s songs,” Lenker declared. “She’s written some of the best songs… ever. Wanna sing ‘Tuesday?’” “Yes,” Mary replied. “We got to sit on the stoop of the house we used to live in today and it was very beautiful. Okay. Holy hell, I feel like I’m in a psychedelic. It’s just the lights.” The two sang Mary’s song, harmonizing with one another and gazing affectionately into each other’s eyes throughout the performance.
“I forgot to sing this song the other night, so I want to make sure I remember to play it tonight.” Sure enough, the next song discussed Lenker’s journey of moving to and living in Boston, meeting her best friends, and falling in love with the city and its people. Through her intermittent stories and earnest tidbits, in addition to her songwriting storytelling talent, the audience learned more about Lenker; her life, and her personality.
Toward the end of the show, Lenker brought two of her musical collaborators onstage to assist her instrumentally and vocally. “We recorded this last record together,” she explained. The three started playing the first few chords of “not a lot, just forever,” and fans could be heard literally hyperventilating as the first piece played from the infamous album songs began. The heavenly harmonies echoed throughout the theater as fans sniffled and wiped tears from their eyes. Suddenly, as the song ended, the microphone feedback screeched suddenly, shaking the audience and performers alike. “Everyone ok?” Lenker asked. “We’re embracing everything tonight.” In light of a show that had proven to be technically complicated and emotional, Lenker then commented on the emotional funk she and, evidently, her fanbase, had been experiencing throughout the past few weeks. “We all feel this collective heaviness right now and I’m so glad we’re here together right now getting through it. This is such a gift and even though I do feel a bit off, I’m so grateful. You just gotta keep moving past all those… well, we’re here together and that’s what gets us through.” The audience applauded in agreement. “I think that’s a good segue into this song,” Lenker added, descending into “Sadness As A Gift.”
After a spirited cover of “Give Peace a Chance,” her set came to a close. Lenker gushed, “Y’all are amazingly awesome.” A fan shouted back, “You’re amazingly awesome,” to which Lenker replied, “Heh, thank you.” She continued, “My favorite guitar teacher is in the house. I love you. Sorry, I messed up on some chords.” Once again, the audience burst into laughter along with Lenker. “I’ve come to not know the difference between doing it right… I feel like there’s no difference. it just kinda happens.” Lenker then began playing the first strums of “anything,” and many fans immediately began sobbing. Lenker’s first song to go viral on TikTok, its lyrics about adulthood and navigating serious relationships whilst wrestling with personal issues and growth resonate with a wide audience. Whimpering and shuddering could be heard throughout the heartfelt performance of Lenker’s most popular songs which some fans had waited years to see live. As an encore, Lenker opted not to perform “Vampire Empire,” her typical final song. Instead, she gave an incredibly emotional performance of “Real House,” which earned her a standing ovation.
“I take comfort in the fact that there’s a very wide mystery surrounding everything. I have no idea who I am or how I got here,” Lenker told the audience as the show came to an end. Whether a fan of Big Thief, Lenker, or neither, a concert such as this is a must-see for any folk music lover. Additionally, Lenker’s ability to connect with an audience and her impeccable songwriting can arguably capture a crowd for any amount of time. Her nearly two-hour-long set took her audience through many emotions — laughter, crying, reflection — yet everyone left the theater equally amazed at the performance they had just witnessed.
The Bright Future Tour will continue to make stops throughout the Northeast this fall, and fans are anticipating more dates soon be announced.
