The sun is setting in the heart of Hollywood, and the ambiance (and spirits) of Hollywood Forever Cemetery are palpably alive. The sunset has lit up the sky in hues of orange and magenta, and the twinkling lights of the cemetery sparkle like stars. Serenity reigns, unobscured by the bustling energy of Santa Monica Boulevard. Constructed in the early 1920s, the Masonic lodge at Hollywood Forever carries a wealth of history, and doubles as one of Los Angeles’ most unique concert venues. Despite its transformation into a concert hall, this intimate space retains its historical charm, decorated by antique chandeliers, velvet red curtains, and wooden throne-like chairs. As I entered the venue, I was immediately transported to a bygone era, as if I were wandering through a museum of a previous century.
This spring, Julia Jacklin has returned to the US to perform residency shows at Hollywood Forever, as well as to support multiple dates of Mitski’s tour. In a statement posted to Rolling Stone, Jacklin stated “The residency idea started because in the spirit of doing what I want next year, even if it doesn’t make sense, I decided I wanted to do a Vegas Residency. The thought made me laugh, and I want to laugh more, and I want more joy in the indie rock touring circuit. I just feel like I jumped on a train in 2016 when I released my first record and it’s been a while since I’ve interrogated why I’m still on the train or asked who’s driving.”
As the ocean-blue lights of the venue dimmed, Georgia Maq, lead vocalist of Australian indie rock band Camp Cope opened the night. Joined on stage by Daniel Fox on electric guitar, Georgia enchanted the crowd with her powerful voice. “This one’s for the ghosts and for the heartbroken. I love you and I’m singing for you,” she declared before kneeling on the stage and delivering emotional ballads to the audience.
Without delay, our attention was brought back to the present as Julia Jacklin casually greeted us with a soft “Hey everyone!” while placing her setlist neatly on the stage. Strumming her electric guitar, she opened her set with “Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You” off of her 2019 release, Crushing. Gracefully gazing into the distance, she produced a magical atmosphere that held the audience captive. Jacklin’s presence was angelic, her sweet, but powerful voice transcending the boundaries of the Masonic Lodge.
Her performance of “To Perth, before the border closes,” explored her bridging connections between Perth and Melbourne, illuminating the daunting changes and uncertainties that occur from moving across the country. Under the shifting lights of the Masonic Lodge, she whispered the final lines, “I loved it there / That city held me / I got a feeling I won’t do it alone / It’s just a feeling though,” leaving us in a moment of contemplation.
Jacklin’s charm was apparent in many of her interactions with the crowd. Whether asking her audience members for help when she forgot some lyrics on “Be Careful With Yourself,” or joking that before shows, she makes her setlists by “looking at [her] albums on Spotify.” These lighthearted moments stood in contrast to the raw honesty and poignant themes present in her music, as she sang about the pain of losing a lover to addiction in “Pool Party,” or longing for temporary love in “Good Guy.”
My favorite moment of the night was her performance of “Motherland”- a track seldom played live in recent years. This particular performance held a deeper significance, spurred by the pleas of audience members who had reached out to Jacklin online, requesting her to include the track in tonight’s setlist. However, right before delving into the song, Jacklin candidly shared her apprehensions, revealing, “I never play this song because it scares me- Because it reminds me of the worst year of my life.” She went on to recount the harrowing pressures she faced during a tumultuous tour, specifically how she experienced her first ever panic attack on stage during the second verse of “Motherland.” “I was a wreck. I found myself in and out of hospitals.” she confessed. Despite the weight of these memories, Julia bravely took to the stage- delivering an absolutely flawless rendition of “Motherland,” her voice a divine force that captivated the audience.
Jacklin upped the energy for “Pressure to Party,” striking her electric guitar as she belted “I know I’ve locked myself in my room / But I’ll open up the door and try to love again soon.” Her performance was electrifying, marking an emotional apex for the night, each note proof of her triumphant spirit and heartfelt songwriting.
For the finale of the evening, Julia instructed her Front of House to cue a karaoke instrumental track for “Lydia Wears a Cross.” Ditching her electric guitar, she danced across the stage to the steady electronic beat, holding her microphone high in the air as the crowd eagerly joined in the chorus. Illuminated by a shining spotlight, she bore an eerie resemblance to the spirits (and ambiance) of the cemetery surrounding her. As the resounding applause filled the air, Julia swiftly departed the stage, leaving us enthralled by her hauntingly beautiful performance.
Listen to Julia Jacklin’s most recent release, PRE PLEASURE, here:
