I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: September 18, 2021] Squirrel Flower

I had heard of Squirrel Flower from All Songs Considered and I was interested in seeing her live.  So I was pleased when she was announced as the opening act for Soccer Mommy.

Squirrel Flower is the stage name of Ella Williams who has been releasing music under this name for about six years.

The show started a little late, so when Ella and her band came out, we all cheered, until we realized they wee just setting up the gear and setlists.  A few minutes later Ella came out by herself and sang “I’ll Go Now.”  It was a remarkably slow song.  She payed stretched out chords and sang slowly over them.   A few minutes in, she bent down and did something at her feet and a looping melody began–I couldn’t tell if she played it live, but it did have a not that was a slightly off.  The song ended and everyone cheered.

She apologized for the “fake out” earlier and then started “Desert Wildflowers” in that same slow style.

I was a little concerned that the whole set would be like this.  It was interesting for a song but 40 minutes would be a bit much.

Then the band came out.  When she introduced Victoria Park on bass, the crowd went crazy.  I thought this was a little odd, although when someone asked the girls who were screaming for her, they said that she was from Jersey. But still.  Maybe they were friends.  She records under the name Pictoria Vark.  I didn’t hear the name of the drummer or the second guitarist (who took a wickedly cool solo in one of the later songs).

Starting with “I’ll Go Running,” the addition of the band really enlivened the set for me.  The songs felt less spare and the second guitar was a nice addition.

She told a fascinating story that a Russian rapper [whose name is Face] stole her song “Conditions” rapped over it in Russian and released it as a song called “Lisa.”  [Williams did not know until someone tweeted at her about it].  Crazy!  [And he really did just take the song and rap over it].

About mid way through I felt like they sounded like a slightly grungier version of Cowboy Junkies.  It was still a little slow for me but I really enjoyed “Flames and Flat Tires” and I loved the finale “Hurt a Fly” which totally rocked.  In an interview, she says that “Hurt a Fly” is her first ever Squirrel Flower song with key changes (!), so maybe that’s why I wasn’t that gripped by her earlier songs.

SETLIST