The Gripping Presence of Aldous Harding

Aldous Harding performing at the Wiltern Theatre, LA by Jacob Alvarez

LA SHOW FEATURED THE SONGWRITER’S CRYPTIC HYPNOTIC SONG ACTING

It’s a vivid thought to experience New Zealand songwriter Aldous Harding’s albums versus her live performances. In her songwriting, every metaphor is matched by a dark rendition of vocals, creating something uniquely haunting but beautiful. Naturally, I was drawn to her.

There isn’t much to say besides her stage presence got the audience to ask themselves “how?” and mostly “why”? Harding came on around 9PM after her collaborator H. Hawkline delivered an opening set. She sat in a very laid back chair that probably obstructed her from the folks towards the back of the venue, but this is of little importance. She lowered her mic and began playing with her band as if we were all gathered around a flame swapping stories. She started strong with the first three tracks off new LP Warm Crisis with her choosing to stand during “Fever.” Harding commanded the stage, looking out to the audience, making eye contact with those who felt compelled to do the same. Almost like a deer in headlights, she stumbled around sometimes smiling and sometimes staying stone-faced.

This got my attention to the point where I refused to look away. Harding has stated that she can’t really recall how she makes her music or writes her lyrics, but her work acts as more performance-based where she captures a feeling as opposed to words. I imagined the likes of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis doing his infamous dancing that didn’t seem to match his persona. Something similar was happening with Harding and I was there for it. Harding was herself, playing to herself, whether the room was filled or had a few people standing in the balcony. Like Samuel T. Herring of Future Islands dances like no one’s watching, just doing what the music asks of him, Aldous Harding gripped those lucky enough to be part of her passionate concert.

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!

PS: Check out our gallery of photos from the performance!