Waxahatchee: Leeds Irish Centre – Live Review | Louder Than War

Waxahatchee | Anna St. Louis
Leeds Irish Centre
29th July 2024

Andy Brown heads to Leeds Irish Centre to catch a joyous set by Kansas City-based alt-country outfit, Waxahatchee. He shares his thoughts for Louder Than War.

Sometimes you follow a band from the very beginning and have the pleasure of seeing them grow. With Waxahatchee I’m listening in reverse order, starting with their latest album, Tigers Blood. A real beauty it is too. Fans of catchy, sunlit Americana should definitely give it a spin. They’re named after a creek in Alabama where sole constant member, Katie Crutchfield, grew up. You don’t get much more country than that. With my interest well and truly piqued, it’s time to go and see them perform at Leeds Irish Centre. Bring on those melancholic melodies!

We’re slowly lowered into the evening with a set from LA-based songwriter, Anna St Louis. Louis has been out on the road with Waxahatchee and is joined on keys by Cole Berggren. Trace carries us down to the rural paths and country lanes where these songs reside. It’s a gentle, crystal-clear sound that manages to hold the entire room in quietly stunned silence. By the time Colin Croom has joined in with a little lap steel, we’re putty in their hands. “We could have had it all,” she swoons on the unequivocally gorgeous Better Days. Oh boy, nothing conveys heartache quite like country.

There’s a nod to one of the all-time greats with a cover of Lee Hazlewood’s, Your Sweet Love. Last year’s In The Air LP had an undeniably classic quality, so it’s no surprise to hear how comfortable Louis is with a song released in ‘66. In fact, there’s a timeless quality to her entire oeuvre. She introduces tonight’s rendition of Phone as the, “up close and personal version”. You could accurately describe the entire set that way. An incredibly intimate performance where every note has been given room to breathe. You could honestly hear a pin drop but it’s hard to speak when you’ve been hypnotised.

Waxahatchee began life as a solo venture but tonight they’re a well-oiled, alt-country outfit. Crutchfield (acoustic/ vox) is joined on stage by Clay Frankel (lead guitar), Eliana Athayde (bass) and Spencer Tweedy (drums/ percussion). Berggren and Croom are back in the mix too with some keys, banjo, harmonica, guitar and lap steel.

There’s a tangible chemistry here that shows in the sheer joy emanating from the stage. They’re keen to reach out and connect with us too. A minute into the set and an impulsive Crutchfield puts her cap on the head of a little kid in the front row. It’s a genuinely heartwarming gesture. The band are spreading the love, one bright yellow baseball cap at a time. “You might get lost in the moment,” she sings on the swooning set opener 3 Sisters. I think we already are.

Tonight’s set is predominantly pulled from the last two Waxahatchee records. Damn fine albums they are too. Ice Cold delivers sprightly countrified rock while The Eye serves up the sweetest kind of sadness. We also get tracks like Problem With It, from the Plains album I Walked With You A Ways. Plains is a band formed by Crutchfield and Jess Williamson; you just can’t stop a good songwriter when they’re on a roll. When that chorus kicks in, it’s the most blissful thing you’ve ever heard.

All these beautifully composed songs are brimful of life, love and lap steel. I love how the banjo weaves through tracks like Right Back To It and the suitably atmospheric harmonica on Burns Out At Midnight. It’s been far too long since I’ve listened to music like this and the melodies are already starting to feel like old friends.

The band are clearly having a blast and those good vibrations can’t help but rub off on the crowd. Punters are cheering, whooping and hollering at every opportunity. I can’t think of the last time I’ve seen this many happy faces on a Monday. The monotony of the working week is a million miles away when you’re watching Waxahatchee.

Crutchfield plays acoustic guitar on most of the songs but seems to relish the opportunity to perform unincumbered by an instrument. In these moments she’s found exploring the stage, crouching by the edge and singing right into the heart of the crowd. Rest assured; she has our full attention with the incredible storytelling on Ruby Falls. It’s the little details that really get to you. The night comes to a close with the smart country pop of Fire from 2020 LP Saint Cloud. “I put on a good show for you,” sings Crutchfield as she reaches her arms out towards us. It’s impossible to disagree with the sentiment. That was a very good show indeed.

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You can find Anna St. Louis on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/ X and Bandcamp.

Waxahatchee are on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/ X and Bandcamp.

Photos by Neil Chapman (Unholy Racket). You can visit his author profile for Louder Than War. He is usually found on Facebook and he tweets as @unholyracket

All words by Andy Brown. You can visit his author profile and read more of his reviews for Louder Than War here.