Gig Review: Julia Jacklin At The Roundhouse
Julia Jacklin treats London to an intimate evening at Camden’s Roundhouse.
A November night sky is cloaked over the Grade II* listed former railway engine shed on Chalk Farm Road, otherwise known as The Roundhouse. An iconic performing arts space that has hosted the greats. Tonight, the air is filled with excitement from the bustle of the crowd gathering at the venue’s doors, eagerly filing inside for an evening with Julia Jacklin.
It was a magical night from start to finish. Support came from Nashville-raised singer-songwriter Erin Rae, her intimate and honest performance was reminiscent of acts like Big Thief or Haley Heynderickx, it was the perfect starter for the night.
After the interval, the crowd returns to the auditorium to secure their viewing spot for the rest of the night. It’s a healthy blend of people from all walks of life in the audience, Julia’s trilogy of albums; Don’t Let The Kids Win, Crushing and latest release, Pre Pleasure have all clearly touched the hearts of many, far and wide.
After Celine Dion’s, My Heart Will Go On overture fades out, the spotlight falls on Julia and her guitar as she opens with a solo of Don’t Let The Kids Win. The band then joins her for Be Careful With Yourself, tonight’s first live rendition of a track from Pre Pleasure. Julia and her band continue to tightly play through the rest of her catalogue, playing handfuls of tracks from all three albums in no particular order. The sound is rich and fills the grand space. The more expressive and moving moments came when Julia rested her guitar and sang Lydia Wears A Cross and Ignore Tenderness, (both from Pre Pleasure) Julia playing the chimes for the latter, the crowd captivated by the twinkling notes.
Everyone wailed along to Crushing’s; Don't Know How to Keep Loving You, the mass grieve from the audience doesn’t over throw Julia and her band. It’s a bawling song, there’s no denying that, but it feels tangibly cathartic in a live environment.
After a sweet check-in with the crowd, Julia moves on to play “the hits.” Everyone gleefully bounces along to I Was Neon and Pressure to Party like we are dancing at home alone with our hair bush. Julia bathing in the stage lights whilst shredding her guitar.
Julia’s confessional songwriting has a gravity that does more than pull on your heartstrings. It soothes your inner teenager. It echoes our own diary entries from our twenties and is perhaps why we are so drawn to it, yet we couldn’t journal our existence as beautifully as Julia does.
Julia’s vocals are so delicate and powerful at the same time, their clarity enhanced by the acoustics at the Roundhouse. Wherever you got to experience the live show, Julia’s voice would find its way through the darkness and into your soul.
