Sharon Van Etten – Civic Theatre: December 12, 2022

Sharon Van Etten and her Darkness Fades Tour stopped down at Auckland’s Civic Theatre to present a show that was both musically satisfying and emotionally fulfilling.

With all the craziness swirling around on both personal and public levels sometimes it feels that a concert setting like The Civic is a much-needed ‘safe place’, especially when artists like Sharon Van Etten and Nadia Reid are on the stage.

Nadia Reid

The close-to sell-out crowd was ready and waiting as Nadia Reid got the evening started. Accompanied by Sam Taylor, Nadia treated us to a few old favourites, a few new tunes and a crowd-pleasing version of Mazzy Star’s Fade Into You.

You could hear a pin drop when it finished.

“I’m actually lost for words”, revealed Reid as she attempted to express her admiration for Van Etten. “This is a big deal”.

Indeed it was and with the grand old Civic providing just the right reverb, Nadia has never sounded better.

Sharon Van Etten

Soon after Nadia, the lights went down and a voice was heard…dialogue from Yellowjackets …and then the band begins Headspace starting with a sound like a foghorn. The stage is dark, but we can make out the silhouette of Sharon, prowling the stage, eventually singing while on her knees.

Finally, with the advent of Comeback Kid, we can see her and she looks very bit the rock and roll animal.

But, of course there’s more to a Sharon Van Etten show than looks, lighting and even the music.

Its all about connecting.

This was made clear about half way through the 70 minute set when she dedicated Tarifa to TV guy John Campbell, then, after the song, stopped to tell us, “I’m a normal person”.

Then, seeming to struggle to find the right words, she finally told us, “I’m ruining an illusion”. It seems Sharon, like many artists, is conflicted about how much to reveal about herself and her songs and how much to leave up to the audience.

“I’m walking the line as a performer”, she added.

Well, I’m sure Johnny Cash would approve.

Back to the music and we get a very intimate version of Darkish, just guitar and voice.

Things get louder and faster as the set comes to its close.

“I want to dance”, shouts a voice from the audience.

And dance you shall!

Every Time The Sun Comes Up has everyone on their feet, then set-closer Born begins with a false start as Sharon perches herself behind the keyboard.

“I wrote this song and I know the words”, she assures us (and herself).

The encore features full band and crew introductions and a very, very, heartfelt tribute to Hamish Kilgour.

So, Darkness Fades sets a sombre tone, but then Seventeen reminds us of the joy, the awkwardness and the innocence of youth.

So, thank you, Sharon Van Etten and Nadia Reid, for a beautiful night of music. I think we all connected.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ivan Karczewski

Sharon Van Etten:

Nadia Reid:

 

Sharon Van Etten setlist:

1. Headspace
2. Comeback Kid
3. No One’s Easy To Love
4. Anything
5. Come Back
6. I’ll Try
7. Never Gonna Change
8. All I Can
9. Tarifa
10. Darkish
11. Mistakes
12. Every Time The Sun Comes Up
13. Born
14. Darkness Fades
15. Seventeen