I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: October 1, 2023] All Things Go [Day 2]

Sometime in April, my daughter asked if we could go to the All Things Go Festival.  I had never heard of this Festival and assumed the answer was no.  But then I saw that it was at the Merriweather Post Pavilion which is exactly three hours away from us.  So when tickets went on sale, I managed to get two pre-sale tickets for Sunday.  And then when they went on proper sale, I managed to score two more for Saturday.

Sunday was  the far more important day for music.  I mean, the whole reason she wanted to go was to see boygenius (and Lana Del Rey).  But this was a great day of music to be sure.

I have wanted to see Arlo Parks for a while.  Last September I could have gone to see her, but I didn’t feel like going to Franklin Music Hall that night.

I had already purchased tickets to see her in the Spring at Union Transfer.  So I didn’t feel the need to see her.  But she was right in the middle of Ethel Cain and boygenius so we weren’t going anywhere.

I also assumed that Arlo Parks would have a bigger fan base than Ethel Cain (who I had never heard of).  Mostly this was because Arlo came after Ethel, but also, as I say, I’d never heard of Ethel.  But I was completely wrong about that.  People didn’t leave for Arlo, but the applause for Arlo was quite subdued compared to what Ethel got.

One of the reasons I didn’t want to see Arlo at Franklin Music Hall was because I feel like her music is very personal and not suited to a big stage.  And That turned out to be true more or less.  Arlo tends to hunch over and kind of squat as she sings and while it’s not a matter of lack of projection, she’s not very outward facing.

Her voice sounded great and the songs were excellent, but as a performer it was too understated for a big stadium like this.  Interestingly, later on, when she sang a song with Muna, she was far more ebullient and fun.

I’m curious to see her now where she’s headlining to see if things are any different.  And, of course, I would actually like to see her, rather than seeing her on a big screen.

ARLO PARKS

1. Bruiseless ∑
2. Weightless ∑
3. Blades ∑
4. Caroline ¥
5. Eugene ¥
6. Dog Rose ∑
7. Hurt ¥
8. Too Good ¥
9. Sophie ♦
10. Devotion ∑
11. Softly §

∑ My Soft Machine (2023)
§ Single (2022)
¥ Collapsed in Sunbeams (2021)
♦ Sophie EP (2019)