REVIEW: Julia Jacklin, Love Spells, and a night at Eastside Alice
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY MIRANDA NICUSANTI ☆
Walking up to this hidden venue in Cypress Park alone with a camera in hand, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I don’t typically write show reviews, but something particularly magical was in the air at Eastside Alice, and I had to put pen to paper.
This pop-up space is hidden behind the home of venue owner Johnny, but for shows, it transforms into a hotspot for music supervisors, publishers, and press looking to connect. Modelos and tacos that fueled the audience’s post-work cravings were provided by 4AD/Beggars Group, Domino Publishing and RCA Records. This event functions as a tiny mechanism in the giant machine of music supervision, giving tastemakers a chance to experience artists in a stripped-back, approachable setting.
At 7:30 PM on the dot, Johnny corralled the crowd into the eclectic rows of chairs that spilled out of his garage. He introduced Love Spells, a bedroom pop & indie rock artist, to open the night.
Love Spell’s romantic music felt practically hypnotic in this intimate setting. His vocal quality felt reminiscent of Mazzy Star’s gentle and whispery voice. Love Spells mentioned it was one of the first times he’d played at such a low volume, and the result was utterly delicious. At one point, he ripped the harmonica - adding a burst of energy that caught the whole yard slightly off guard. It was incredible.
Julia Jacklin followed, opening with “to Perth, before the border closes.” Behind her, the sky faded into orange and pink, colliding with the baby blue shed like something out of a dream. From the first strum of her guitar, she owned the small space with an ease that transformed the whole yard into a cozy living room.
Her set consisted mainly of her older music, but she also graced us with a performance of a single off her new album, “Get Away From Me (I Think I’ll Love You Soon)”. She’s not typically a “woo girl”, but has always wanted to write a song with a “Woo” that channels the same energy as Keith Urban’s “Somebody Like You” - a moment that conjured some woos from the audience.
The quieter middle of her set is where she landed the true gut-punches. “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You”, a song dedicated to falling out of love, halted time to a standstill. You could feel the humidity from the hot summer night hang heavy in the air. It was a sharp contrast to how she closed out her set, back-to-back with her “Party” songs, “Pool Party” and “Pressure to party”, ending the night with some light seated chair dancing.
As the evening wound down, people milled around the string-lit yard. Johnny told everyone to enjoy the night, but only for a little, as it was a school night after all. I hope to come back to this beautiful hidden venue one day, but for now, I feel lucky to have experienced this magical space even once.
