On Thursday, the Center for Arts at the Armory welcomed Waxahatchee, an indie-folk band out of Birmingham, Alabama, to its intimate concert hall.
Located just a mile from the Davis Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority station, the Arts at the Armory stands tall with its bleached cylindrical towers and large wooden doors. Originally, the concert hall played host to the Massachusetts National Guard and the Somerville Light Infantry of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, but within the last ten years, it has been gracefully converted into the Center for Arts. The venue now supports a wide range of entertainers, inviting both amateurs and professionals to share their talents.
After a longer-than-necessary delay, Allison Crutchfield, former member of pop-punk band P.S. Eliot and twin sister of Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield, took the stage for a remarkable opening performance. A prolonged transition led to a second, and slightly less remarkable, opening performance from Sam Cook-Parrott of indie-pop band Radiator Hospital. At this point in the show, the delays were becoming wearisome.
Fortunately, the main act was well worth the wait. At 9 p.m., Katie Crutchfield stepped onto the stage, sporting a powder blue electric guitar and a modest smile. Crutchfield’s crystalline vocals, subtle southern twang and trademark reverb cut through the room. It was incredible to see how her work has transformed from her stripped debut album, “American Weekend” in 2012 to its much fuller sequel, “Cerulean Salt” in 2013.
What’s even more incredible is the way the band maintains its charming simplicity. Crutchfield’s writing is intimate. Her songs are personal and touching. Her melodies are beautiful. But she is incredibly economical in the way she makes music. Accompanied only by part-time band member Keith Spencer, Crutchfield made a significant impression on the crowd.
The pair came out strong with an unexpected set list that immediately hooked the band’s growing cult following. Their nearly even mix of both old and fresh material held the crowd’s attention for the duration of the show. It was an incredibly balanced performance, with a few highlights, of course.
“Grass Stain,” a favorite from “American Weekend,” was one of the more memorable moments. Following the opening number, the once-acoustic song came out much stronger with Waxahatchee’s recent transition to electric instrumentation. Its punchy rhythm, partnered with Crutchfield’s comforting voice, elevated the piece to a new level.
The format of the show was also intriguing. After opening with some familiar standards and the occasional new track, Crutchfield used the middle portion of the set for what was more or less a condensed solo performance. During this time, Crutchfield sat by herself at a piano and unleashed a slew of brand new songs, all of which captured the nostalgic, raw emotion that makes Waxahatchee so likeable.
As the show progressed, the tempo picked back up, moving into the band’s already established repertoire with songs like “Swan Dive,” “I Think I Love You” and “Blue Pt. II.” But the real meat of the show came in the last 15 minutes with a completely rearranged “Be Good” that was nothing short of incredible, as well as a new song that featured both Katie and Allison Crutchfield.
The foundation of the final song was a heavy, sustained synthesizer accompanied by a minimal guitar part and absolutely gorgeous vocal harmonies. The voices of the Crutchfield twins blended flawlessly, their high, clear tones serving as the perfect contrast to the deep, distorted keyboard. With hypnotic repetition and heartbreaking melodies, it was the perfect choice for a closing track, and it showed huge promise as to what Waxahatchee has in store for a third album.
A relative newcomer to the indie scene, Waxahatchee is quickly picking up speed. Crutchfield’s work — her writing and her delivery — is consistently enjoyable, and her performance at the Arts at the Armory only confirmed that. The band’s impressive track record, combined with the exciting new material springing up on its current tour, make Waxahatchee a band to watch in the coming years that’s only getting better with time.
