PALEHOUD AND A SURPRISE MINI STANDUP SET OPENED

My admiration for indie rock band Sleater-Kinney can be traced back to my early college years in San Francisco. A paper based on feminism, I chose to write about the Olympia, WA based band who were born of the riot girrl movement in the Pacific Northwest. Their lyricism and ideologies were on full display, not shying away from the topics of their minds; something not always seen and definitely not heard. All Hands on the Bad One was the record in particular that left a lasting impression on myself, but the admiration flowed into a new realm once I began watching the sketch comedy show Portlandia. Seeing guitarist/vocalist Carrie Brownstein poke fun at hot topics while retaining her love for music of the Pacific Northwest and beyond was just insanely cool. This boosted her to becoming one of my favorite artists/people on the planet. And besides a small bumping into at a St. Vincent show back in 2018, I had never seen her or the band. Until tonight…

After a sold out gig at the Wiltern the day before, the band dropped by more intimate Belasco Theater for a second round. The floor and balcony were packed out, with fans lining up to buy from what I think is a buffet of amazing merch: you had limited edition posters specific to the night, all albums on vinyl plus their latest record Little Rope signed, and even signed copies of Brownstein’s memoir, Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl. I quickly bought a shirt and headed to the floor where indie band Palehound were performing with a ferocity that juxtaposed their gratefulness. The stage was lit by two chandeliers, aptly fitting the Belasco’s setting.

The stage resembled a rustic living room with a curtain backdrop that hid pillars. Palehound ended their set and to much of the crowd’s surprise, Sleater-Kinney’s road merch manager performed a short standup set once the band caught wind of their talents. The band came on shortly after with huge grins, performing the first two tracks off Little Rope before going into powerhouse “The Center Won’t Hold.” Brownstein let out her trademark air kicks and would meet in the middle of the stage with fellow singer/guitarist Corin Tucker, showcasing their ability to have fun while slaying the stage.

The show would go from bombast to quiet, having fans embrace the slower tracks as well. The latest LP deals with much grief and dark themes, ultimately highlighting the ways to navigate the tough times and what kind of person you become after the fact. It warmed me to not only hear but see the tenderness and resilience Brownstein and Tucker share, which bleeds into the crowd’s reception of them (not that that matters). Sleater-Kinney also payed tribute to their classics, playing “Start Together,” from now 25 year old album The Hot Rock. Although they only performed one song off my favorite record, being “All Hands on the Bad One,” it was an essential performance for myself to witness on this Good Friday. Check out the set list here!