Concert Review: Becoming an Escaper with Sarah Kinsley

Michael Ybarra

Music Journalist

On the first cool night of fall, a line formed outside of Antone’s Nightclub, extending around the corner of the block. Young adults chit chatted with each other, but behind me, a couple in the winter of their lives spoke with a young woman.

“We’ve never heard her before. What kind of music does she make,” they asked.

They were in for a treat. I knew Sarah Kinsley, fresh off the heels of releasing her debut album, Escaper, would not disappoint them, and I envied these first timers. Soon, we were all welcomed into the dim space, and I prepared myself to dance until my lungs ached for air.

Opening for Kinsley was the wonderful Alix Page. If the voices of Phoebe Bridgers and Lizzy McAlpine married each other, Page’s vocal quality would be their daughter.

She even shared an unreleased song titled “Break Up the Band” with the adoring crowd. A dissonant pre-chorus led to delicious electric guitar licks from her only partner on stage, Andrew Pham. The duo successfully captured the room’s attention, a feat proven to be difficult for many opening acts.

By the end of her set, I knew Page would find her way into my future listening habits. Then, with a wave and a smile, she retreated offstage, and the anticipation began.

Initially, I had reservations about Kinsley at such a small, intimate venue. Much of her instrumentation is glorious and grandiose. I thought translating that to a cramped space like Antone’s would be challenging, but there was no time for worry as the lights dimmed, the band took the stage and the audience began their roar of cheers.

Tantalizing synthesizers permeated the nightclub as the lights washed the stage in a rich blue hue, and then she appeared. In a modest black top and pants, Kinsley made the crowd go wild when they realized the synths were playing the intro to “Lovegod,” a fan-favorite from her most recent EP, Ascension.

From the start, it was clear Kinsley was in her element. She swayed back and forth. She caressed the air with her hands. And that voice. Not an ounce of strain. Not one imperfection. She was pitch perfect.

Once I broke out of my astonished trance, I realized Kinsley had begun singing “Realms.” Now bathed in the muted yellow that defines the cover of Escaper, punctuated percussion boomed the song’s signature shuffle and took hold of the audience.

She would go on to perform ten songs from Escaper, including my favorite, “There Was a Room,” a tender love song that explodes during the chorus. The audience was more than willing to oblige with vocals of their own, hooting into the stratosphere with Kinsley as she belted into her contact mic, not worrying if they sang on-pitch.

Kinsley even pulled the moody “I’m Not A Mountain” from the archives of her discography. Sat at the piano, she still commanded the entire room.

What I admire most about Kinsley is her boldness to allow music to consume her, transforming her into a conduit for melody and musicality. Some musicians are tempted to cram as much lyrical meaning into a song as possible, but Kinsley is unafraid to let her music breathe with rich language, ethereal vocals and long instrumentals.

During a transition, Kinsley explained writing Escaper  took a toll on her. She said the album is mostly about loss and grief which “comes and goes in waves,” but “in a group of people,” her songs become “less about pain and more about celebrating.” These anecdotes showed Kinsley’s bravery, baring her soul just as she does in her music and pulling the audience into her performance even more.

Throughout the night, Kinsley kept the audience in the palm of her hand, even after she left the stage. Prompted by the incessant screams of “Encore”, the band and Kinsley came back for two more dance-worthy songs. The showstopping songs “The King” and “Oh No Darling” perfectly portrayed one last statement: Kinsley knows how to drive home a fun finale.

One thought stuck in my head the whole night: Kinsley deserves a larger stage. I am certain Kinsley will bring a symphony of strings and astounding stage visuals worthy of her talent the next time she goes on tour. It is clear her career has only just begun.