Willow Avalon live at Washington, DC’s Atlantis review

by

On a thrilling Friday evening at the jam-packed Atlantis in Washington D.C., I, Willow Avalon, graced the stage – my heart pounding as it was only the second night of my debut headlining tour. Clad in a stunning long gown of silvery-white and green cowboy boots, I couldn’t help but feel awestruck by the energetic sea of fans before me, a 25-year-old Georgian girl living a dream.

“Who told y’all to come?” she asked.
“You did!” came the response.
“Yeah, I love the internet.”

In just half a year since Avalon debuted her initial album titled “Stranger,” comprising seven tracks, she’s already unveiled her second album – “Southern Bell Raisin’ Hell.” The remarkable progression in her songwriting abilities, as demonstrated in the new release, is truly astonishing.

Willow Avalon is simply too much fun in concert

In a different phrasing:

*The first album*, Stranger, was impressive upon release, yet it showcased a recurring pattern in its contemporary ballads of country music.
*Southern Belle*… is an eclectic mix, featuring feisty rock songs and tender heartbreak melodies, all skillfully performed by her well-rehearsed backup band.

On Friday evening, I found myself captivated by one of country music’s most extraordinary voices. The show commenced a bit later than expected, and Avalon took a moment to express her apologies, confessing that she had temporarily lost her voice earlier in the day. Whatever remedy she used, it was nothing short of miraculous. Her distinctive vibrato, a quiver that gives depth to her performances, was in full effect.

As a dedicated admirer, I can’t help but draw parallels between Avalon and the legendary Dolly Parton. Her latest album features an energetic homage to Dolly that she didn’t perform during our recent event, but she did unveil a fresh, heartwarming ballad titled “Georgia Mile.” The resemblance in this new composition is undeniable.

The alternative tunes she played – “Going to Hell in a Handcart” and “If His Name is Will” – were far from sugary. Instead, they were simply lively and entertaining. Before singing the latter, she apologized to any individual named “Will,” as it advises all the ladies “If his name is Will – He won’t.” (In this song, ‘won’t’ means he is not a suitable partner.)

During the set, Avalon performed “Georgia Mile” as one of two songs where she was joined by only her acoustic guitarist Darryl Rahn and Ned Steves, who replaced his bass with a banjo. The first of these tunes was the beautiful “Baby Blue” from the album “Southern Belle“.

The majority of the songs played were from her latest album, released in January. Despite its recent debut, the crowd was eager to join in on hits such as “Something We Regret”, “Yodelayheewho”, and “Homewrecker”, a modern country anthem that concluded her performance.

During the presentation, Avalon provided useful advice to the attendees, asking those without partners to raise their hands and engage with one another as Valentine’s Day drew near. Additionally, she shared a trick from her ninth-grade education when she pulled out a lipstick from her bra and applied it during the show. She mentioned that keeping it soft and warm like this is beneficial, she added.

Avalon’s history is gradually unfolding as her fame grows. It turns out that her father is the eccentric musician-songwriter Jim White. Avalon has opened up about her childhood with a father on the autism spectrum and how it frequently brought challenges. She started performing when she was just a teenager, left Georgia at 15 to chase her dreams in L.A., and secured her first record deal at 19. After that, she moved to New York City, where she currently resides.

Previously, she served as the opening act for Cage the Elephant during their “Neon Pill” tour, and her recognition has been consistently increasing since then. Now, she boasts an exceptional band, with pedal steel player Jack McLoughlin and lead guitarist JR Atkins providing significant support. The duo also contributed to the production of her most recent album.

On tour, Darryl Rahn, another guitarist of hers, is serving as the opening act. He performed “New Slang” by The Shins and several impressive songs from his recently released album, including “Heaven is a Dive Bar,” which has a John Prine-like feel, and “Nothing Ever Happens.

The song launching his 2024 album titled “Dusk” briefly caused an awkward pause due to its opening lyric, “I get a tad anxious whenever I board a plane.” Rahn hesitated after singing the first line, recognizing that it might not be appropriate given the recent plane crash only five miles away from where he was performing.

With cheers from the audience, he picked up where he left off, performing one of his finest compositions. Joined by the remaining band members, Rahn concluded with the song “Angels Bowling,” minus Avalon.

Next up, Avalon took to singing, marking the occasion with her distinctive “one-two-three-four” countdown (particularly emphasizing the “three”). With her vibrant pink microphone and a band smartly dressed in black suits and bolo ties, she was well prepared – regardless of any vocal issues.

After finishing the boisterous act “You’re Going to Hell in a Handbag,” Avalon encapsulated her performance philosophy as follows: “Recently, I’ve felt quite angry, and this is one way we can express that emotion without finding ourselves back in jail.

Avalon and her group, particularly JR on the guitar, are enjoying themselves way too much during performances to find themselves in jail. For the following three weeks, they’ll be traveling along the East Coast. Then, starting early March, they’re off to perform a series of shows across the UK.

Read More

2025-02-01 21:01