Lola Kirke @ DC9 [DC] - 9/27/2019
Lola Kirke and company at DC9 (Photo by Mauricio Castro)
You might know Lola Kirke from Gone Girl or Mozart in the Jungle, but if you don’t know her for her music, it’s time for that to change. Though Kirke is British by birth, her upbringing in the US has defined her musical journey. Her 2018 debut album Heart Head West wore its country influences on its sleeve. More recently, she released an EP in September, Friends And Foes And Friends Again, a set of collaborations with friends like Wet’s Kelly Zutrau (and hopefully, none of the foes).
At DC9, she wasn’t just celebrating the new EP - the entire room got to celebrate because it was also Kirke’s birthday! The owner of DC9 came up to the stage halfway through the set with a cake and lit candles as the crowd sang “Happy Birthday” along with her backing band. For the entire night, the band was in high spirits, even as the tour came to its penultimate stop in DC. Kirke sipped from her glass of whiskey in-between verses - don’t give Kirke any shots, though: “I’m 29 now, my arms hurt when I get hungover.” The Laurel Canyon-tinged “Sip the Wine” dialed the country sound back, but the sing-along “Cocaine” turned DC9 into a jovial saloon. And a great cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Sugaree” left no question that Kirke and company have their sound nailed down, and are having a lot of fun doing it.
Friends And Foes And Friends Again is out now through Downtown Records.
Opening for Lola Kirke was the multitalented Odetta Hartman, who continues to impress with her modern take on Appalachian folk music and a playful attitude. Who else will bring out fun props like a trash can, bubble blowers, train whistles, light-up fingers, and large fans on stage? Her latest release is the 2018 album Old Rockhounds Never Die through Northern Spy Records.
Richmond-based band She kicked off the night with what was their first-ever performance in DC. Their debut EP is forthcoming.
