Not a breath was wasted during the Jade Bird set Thursday night at Brighton Music Hall: the band flew through songs with electric energy. Jade Bird, the 20-year-old British up-and-coming Americana artist, captured everyone last year with her Something American EP. She has this incredible ability to shape-shift, as some songs lend themselves to her more acoustic roots, while others are way more electric, almost with a 90s-rock influence.
The set started with her standing solo on stage for “What Am I Here For,” clad in a black vintage jumpsuit with fringe running down the arms. The audience was captivated by her strong, powerful voice, which she carried throughout the whole night. I’ve never seen anyone belt like she did for an hour. She enthusiastically brought her band onto the stage and they launched into a batch of new tunes off her upcoming record like “Good At It” and “Side Effects.” She introduced her new songs “Ruins” as about “being in love and being confused as to where to go.” Though her voice and her writing are incredibly mature, she writes as a 20-year-old. She brings that youth to the Americana world.
Midway through the set, the band launched into The Bangles “Walk Like an Egyptian” and the crowd went wild, singing along. Jade has this immense ability to keep the audience alive and participating. “Is it alright if I play another new one?” she’d shout into the mic, or later, solo at the piano, she asked “can I play you a few sad ones? I promise it will only be a few.”
She closed the set with her big single “Lottery” and a firey Johnny Cash cover. Her tour continues across the U.S. for another week before a long European tour. Catch one of her shows for an electric night of incredible Americana songwriting.
For more from Jade Bird, follow her on Instagram.
Featured photo by Austin Roa.