I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 8, 2018] Julia Jacklin

I had heard about Julia Jacklin from NPR, so I was intrigued to see her live.  Jacklin is Australian, but you can’t really tell from her singing voice (or her speaking voice, really).  Although the way she enunciates “buh sket ball” makes her sound conspicuously non-American.  I had heard a song called “Don’t Let the Kids Win” which contains that basketball.  The title is amusing and I knew she was lyrically dense, so Iassumed there’d be amusing lines throughout the show.  But indeed, no.

Jacklin is not a partier, but nor is she a downer either.  She is thoughtful and inquisitive.  Her music, even live, is fairly spare–except when it’s not–and she sings pretty quietly–except when she doesn’t.

She was charming and funny–delightful in an opening act.  She played a quick six songs and that was that.

“Lead Light” has a kind of old school swing to it, almost 50s rock and roll.  I enjoyed the way the song built and stopped several times.

Her band, three Canadian guys, Harry (lead guitar) Eddie (bass) and Ian (drums) kept perfect accompaniment and backing vocals.

I recognized “Lead Light,” “Pool Party” and “Don’t Let the Kids Win.” from her Tiny Desk Concert and I found that the songs I was familiar with I liked a bit better.  I’m guessing that she’s the kind of singer whose lyrics you need to internalize a bit–it’s not easy to appreciate what she’s singing about the first time you hear her–which is tough for an opening act.

Her songs are a little too slow and stretched out for my tastes.  Although she did throw in a couple of faster songs like “Pressure to Party” to mix it up nicely.  In fact she mixed it up throughout the show–a rock n roll element, a country aspect.  But it was when she started singing loudly (and holding her notes for a long time) that she was really spectacular.

And on a song like “Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You” had a slightly different, slightly more rocking–less bluesy tone.  The tension built and there was a great solo from Harry.  The crowd really responded to it because it was like a sonic explosion after the quieter songs.

“Pool Party ‘ is a slow brooding song that sounds familiar (the chord progression) but defies what’s expected with a title like that”

You grew smaller to me that Saturday when
You came crashing, crawling down through the back brush
Eyes were bloodshot and your leaden voice thin
You said, “I won’t blame you now,” but I caught your cold somehow
Then you jumped right in

When it came time for the last song, the band left and it was just her on stage with her guitar.  Although she messed up the first line, she composed herself perfectly and began again  I am printing the lyrics at the end here because they are so good and so well-delivered.

But just to show that Julia isn’t all downer songs, she also started a fun-rockin’ band called Phantastic Ferniture.  She didn’t play any of those songs but they are fun.

I don’t know the setlist, although considering she played the same thing several nights round our show, I’ m assuming the list below is correct.

1. Lead Light
2. Coming of Age
3. Pressure to Party
4. Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You
5. Pool Party
6. Don’t Let the Kids Win

Don’t let the kids win

Don’t let the kids win
Just let them lose
They’re not gonna learn anything
If that’s the way you choose to play

Don’t let the kids win
Just let them fall
You don’t want them growing up thinking two-year-olds are good at playing basketball

Don’t let your grandmother die
While you’re away
A cheap trip to Thailand’s not gonna make up for never getting to say goodbye

And don’t let your brother
Stop thinking you’re cool
Yeah, I know, he’s got a girlfriend now and he’s taller, but that don’t mean
He’s stopped looking up to you

And I’ve got a feeling
That this won’t ever change
We’re gonna keep on getting older
It’s gonna keep on feeling strange

And don’t let your friends turn cold
While you burn to green
When they walk off the stage embrace them
And say that’s the best shit I’ve ever seen

And don’t let your sister
Walk down the aisle
Without pulling her close, saying I love you and it’s okay
If I don’t see you for a while

And don’t let the time go by
Without sitting your mother down
And asking what life was like for her
Before you came to be around
And tell her it’s okay if she puts herself first
Us kids we’ll be alright if we’re not the center of her universe