An Intimate Evening with Courtney Barnett at Hollywood Forever

Courtney Barnett performing at the Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

Australian singer-songwriter serenaded a packed Masonic Lodge

Courntey Barnett has been described as a lot of things: enigmatic, reclusive, and, of course, a modern-day songwriting genius. For two nights in Hollywood, she gave fans a vulnerable and stripped-down experience of the many facets of herself as both an artist and a human being.

Opening for Barnett on the West Coast leg of her tour was Arushi Jain, also known as Modular Princess. A DIY multihyphenate, she wove ethereal tapestries of sound, merging elements of Indian classical music and synth technology as her gossamer voice soared amongst ambient tones. Untethered from time and space, Jain’s merging of deeply-rooted, culturally rich musical traditions with the endless possibilities of modular technology make her a unique and expansive voice in the world of electronic music.

Courtney Barnett performing at the Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

Courtney Barnett performing at the Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

Barnett then took to the stage with Stella Mozgawa, best known as Warpaint’s drummer, to perform instrumentals from End Of The Day, an album they produced together and released just two months ago. With Barnett on guitar with a wide array of pedals and Mozgawa on synth, their set was a manifestation of the symbiotic, improvisational nature forever imbued in the original body of work. While the two musicians navigated hypnotic droning and stunning, oscillating tones, scenes from Danny Cohen’s Barnett-focused documentary Anonymous Club loomed above them, the projection streaming through the fog that filled the Masonic hall.

Courtney Barnett performing at the Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

After the captivating experimental performance with Mozgawa, Barnett proceeded to treat the audience to a solo show featuring some of her most beloved songs. The sold-out crowd sang along with her to “Avant Gardener” with all the warmth and intimacy of a house show, emboldened by the humility and warmth she radiated from the stage. Barnett also included covers of Kim Deal’s “Beautiful Moon” and Seattle group Chastity Belt’s “Different Now,” peeling back yet another layer to show what moves her as a songwriter and music aficionado herself. 

Courtney Barnett performing at the Masonic Lodge at The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, LA by Sophie Prettyman-Beauchamp

In its totality, the soundscape of the night captured both the pop sensibilities Barnett harnesses so masterfully, as well as the various textures that make up the person sans-persona. It may have been the closest we can get to knowing and truly understanding her multitudes–and what an honor it was. Check out the setlist here!

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

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