On a cold October night, Julien Baker delivered a soul touching performance that put the audience through a journey of vulnerability, heartache and more. Held in the cozy, dimly lit venue, The Bellwether in Los Angeles, Baker’s concert was a night full of heartfelt lyrics, with each song carrying listeners further into her deeply personal storytelling.

The night opened with Katie Malco, whose melancholy vibe set a somber yet beautiful tone for the evening. The audience swayed slowly in the delicate atmosphere created by Malco’s voice and lyrics. Following Malco, Enumclaw’s electrifying act took the stage, transforming the crowd’s mood. Enumclaw amped up the excitement, infusing energy and anticipation into the faces of everyone in the room, preparing the audience for Baker’s much-awaited entrance.

Baker opened her set with an ethereal violin and piano arrangement that filled the venue, creating a mystical backdrop, foreshadowing the magic about to take place throughout the night. As she entered the stage, the crowd erupted into applause, and Baker’s first song, “Over,” an instrumental, truly setting the tone for the night. Baker preceded to sing“Appointments” off her 2017 album Turn Out The Lights, introducing her powerful, crisp vocals that imbued the venue with awe. Moving into her third song “Ringside”, the lighting shifted to warm, golden spotlights surrounding The Bellwether, setting the scene for Baker’s haunting lyrics, “Nobody deserves a second chance, but, honey, I keep getting them.” The intimate deep lyrics hit the crowd deeply, drawing everyone in even closer to the singer both physically and mentally.

Fans instantly cheered at the first note of her song “Reflective Fiction”  which featured a shimmering disco ball casting soft light over the crowd. The audience joined in when singing, “You’re the only thing I’d wait around for…” deepening the emotional intensity being brought out of the audience as the fans’ singing blended with Baker’s gorgeous ghostly vocals.

The crowd roared in recognition during “Favor,” with fans belting out each lyric along with the singer. Baker’s haunting vocals carried through the venue, enhanced by fog rolling across the stage into the air which created an almost cinematic effect. Throughout, warm lighting supported the band’s laidback vibe, while Baker’s intense, powerful belts captivated the entire venue all at once. She later introduced a new unreleased song, “High in the Basement,” her voice rising and falling in time with golden beams of light showering over her fans.

As Baker moved into a solo portion, the atmosphere shifted once again. Fans softly echoed the lyrics to “Something” back at the artist, creating a stunning sing along that was both beautiful and respectful to Baker and the audience, fans not trying to be louder, but to really sing with the musician. The intimacy of this solo set was absolutely remarkable, with each lyric causing the crowd to sway and eyes to water.

Baker’s fantastic backing band returned at her side for “Crying Wolf,” golden rays casting a rebirth-like glow over the room. Fans recognized the beloved track “Sprained Ankle” immediately, joining in with Baker’s sorrowful lines. She closed with “Bloodshot,” washing the venue in red lighting as fans nodded in rhythm, swept up in the raw emotion and excitement of it all, the venue enjoying every moment shared together.

As the encore began, Baker’s genuine “Thanks for being here, it’s really, really neat” brought cheers and laughter. She closed with the powerful “Everybody Does,” the entire venue united in song, voices echoing back to the band, carrying a bittersweet, lovely end to a night of lyrical beauty and vulnerability.

Julien Baker Setlist

Over
Appointments
Ringside
Red Door
Relative Fiction
Favor
Shadowboxing
High in the Basement
Tokyo
Something
Crying Wolf
Ziptie
Sprained Ankle
Bloodshot
Even
Claws in Your Back
Hardline
Encore:
Turn Out the Lights
Everybody Does

Photo Credit: Sharon Alagna