By Francesca Frankis, Second year History
Julia Jacklin plays The Fleece on the second night of her ‘Crushing’ tour, Francesca Frankis reviews.
Hailing from the Blue Mountains in Australia, Julia Jacklin has made a noteworthy impression on the indie scene since the release of her first album ‘Don’t let the kids win’ back in 2016. Fresh off the success of her first record, Jacklin released her second album Crushing just a month ago. Detailing the end of a long term relationship, it works as the perfect successor for her last record; it marries together her soulful lyrical performances that are deeply introspective with dreamy guitar parts that are reminiscent of a mix of indie and folk.
On Wednesday evening, the second night of her ‘Crushing’ tour, Jacklin casually emerged onto the small stage at the Fleece. The show was sold out and the crowd were eager, applauding the band before they had barely even taken up their positions. The melancholic ballad ‘Body’ signalled the start of Jacklin’s set, ‘I guess it’s just my life, and it’s just my body’ sighed Jacklin. In between songs, like ‘Don’t let the kids win’ and ‘Pressure to party’ the rest of the band were introduced. Jacklin gave anecdotal accounts from previous gigs, it didn't feel like she was talking to a room full of people, but rather catching up with old friends. After several more tracks from her new album including the more optimistic track ‘Head alone’, Jacklin’s band went backstage and left her to perform some intimate, acoustic songs on her own. This included a stripped back version of ‘Comfort’, where Jacklin contemplates the aftermath of a breakup, ‘You can’t be the one to hold him when you’re the one who left’. Each song was highly emotive, and this was reflected in Jacklin’s delivery.
The set wouldn't have been complete without a performance of ‘Pool party’ one of Jacklin’s most notable tracks, exampling her distinctive lyrical style at its best, to which the crowd wailed along. The gig finished up with ‘Leadlight’, a track which pays homage to her folk genre influence. It wouldn't be wrong to describe Jacklin’s music as ‘simple’; the messages her songs deliver are effortless and uncomplicated, proving that a great sound can come from nothing more than a guitar and voice, much like her performance. Both Jacklin’s new album ‘Crushing’ and live show at the Fleece provided for ideal easy listening; truly, a singer songwriter in her prime.
Featured Image: Julia Jacklin / Francesca Frankis
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