Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory Live at Palace Theatre 5/10
Sharon Van Etten and her band The Attachment Theory hit the historical Palace Theatre Stage on Saturday Night and the experience from start to finish was nothing short of cathartic. I honestly couldn’t think of a better day for Van Etten and her band mates to play. It was one of the first truly sunny and beautiful spring days where the humidity of summer hasn’t quite sunk in and you start to notice that most of the leaves on the trees are in full bloom. Now take that idea of the most perfect day and add on a Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory show at one of my favorite venues? That was my Saturday and it was absolutely perfect.
My favorite thing about attending live shows is walking into a venue and experiencing the opener absolutely blind. Its how I’ve discovered some of my favorite artists and this night was no different. Opening for Van Etten was Love Spells — a dreamy pop and indie rock solo project by Sir Taegen C'aion Harris based in Los Angeles, California. After witnessing the whole show and looking back, Love Spells was the perfect opener. The performance was soft and dreamy and created the perfect compliment to the gothic indie rock set that was to come. I was so blown away by Taegen’s vocal range. His sound was quiet yet layered and his lyrics were raw and dreamlike. While I’m not the biggest fan of deep blue stage lighting (for editing purposes), I think for this set specifically, it was perfect. The dark blue and purple paired perfectly with the melodic beat of his band and the soft tone of this lyrics. Love Spell’s set was the perfect example of dream pop and when the time comes, I hope I get the chance to see him on his first headlining tour.
At last, the set I had been looking forward to all day and haven’t stopped talking about for the weeks leading up to it. The lights dimmed and the shadowy figures of Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory appeared on stage. The first three songs of the set really flung us into the world of Van Etten and her band’s first album together. Nothing will beat the feeling of hearing “Afterlife” and “Idiot Box” live from the photo pit. Her set was deep and dynamic and the transitions between her newer songs and her solo work was seamless. In the middle of the set before the transition to her older solo work, Van Etten made sure to thank every person on her tour and acknowledge the village behind every show. She touched on her experience as a touring parent and the excitement she felt to be able to see her family that evening and spend the following day with them. Lastly, she expressed the vulnerability of being in her 40s and knowing nothing but the solo work she has been creating for the last handful of years. And now, deciding to create a band for the first time and share that vulnerable space with other artists. I feel as though that’s not a narrative we the audience hear much of but I think it provided us with the insight on the foundation and trust at the core of Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory. I can imagine the anxiety that comes with leaving the sacred space an artist has built in their solo work and but witnessing the sound and dynamic that Van Etten and her band have created was truly special. I watched the rest of her set from the crowd and got to be surrounded by people dancing and enjoying the music as she worked her way through the set.
Finally, as the encore approached, the opening notes of “Seventeen” rang out — and the energy in the room shifted instantly. It was a mix of electricity and deep, collective nostalgia. “Seventeen” was one of the first Sharon Van Etten songs I ever heard, and it’s still my favorite. Hearing it live felt like coming full circle. There were moments when I caught myself holding my breath — especially when she cried out “I used to feel free”. It landed like both a release and a reckoning, echoing something personal that’s hard to name but impossible to ignore. I’ve seen a lot of live music, and I have my fair share of favorites, but very few performances burrow under my skin and stay with me the way this one has. One of the best live moments I’ve ever experienced to date, and I know it’ll be hard to top.
