I have to sneak in the middle of Ryan’s crazy good Bonnaroo coverage to say a few words about Julie Doiron‘s show last night in the performane space of Art House Designs in Olympia.

Folding chairs, it was a quiet Monday night show which matched her music perfectly. The first half of the set was solo work. She leaned heavy on Heart and Crime. The small space, the quiet mood, her understated vocals all worked together perfectly. She told stories about how many books she had bought in Olympia, how she sometimes has trouble getting across the border to play shows, and a show ten years ago in Port Townsend where she first met Phil Elvereum.

At the halfway mark, she brought up her band and switched to the new material from Woke Myself Up. The reviews all say that the new album was a switch in style for her, but it’s hard to truly understand that until you sit in the room and have her play from both. Where the early work is fragile and skeletal, the new sound is warmer, wider, and more full.

The highlight of the night was her second to last song – an achingly beautiful version of “Oh These Walls” that she played solo on the chipped, worn piano at the edge of the performance space. (“… and the neighbors here don’t understand, how I could miss you…”)

Anyone who wishes Feist’s recent album wasn’t as polished or produced, anyone who knows who Sarah Harmer is, anyone who wants a little less country Kathleen Edwards, anyone who wants a little more grounded Laura Veirs, should find Julie Doiron.

(travis)