Sunday was a big night for Maynooth born and bred Nell Mescal, as she kicked off her tour on a gloomy Glasgow evening. After making a rapid dash through the dark damp conditions, the warm interior of Glasgow’s iconic Òran Mór was a welcome sight. However, the weather did not ruin the night, but seemed to reflect the melancholic nostalgic vibe of the evening, quintessentially ‘sad girl.’
Glasgow local, Riley was the first opener. She describes her music as “yee-haw pop,” so it wasn’t a surprise to learn that her musical hero is Taylor Swift, as much of her music had a Sabrina Carpenter meets 2000s Swift kinda vibe. Performing reflective, emotional lyrics hidden within upbeat acoustics, she managed to engage the audience, playing some crowd-pleasing covers. While her style is not completely to my personal musical taste, she put on a good show, managing any difficulty that came her way.
CeCe Coakley is supporting Mescal throughout the whole tour. Based in Nashville, her music is steeped in indie, folk and country. A sort of country Phoebe Bridgers? A soft, but impactful presence on stage, she drew in the audience whilst alone on stage, just her and her guitar. Her introspective, but relaxed style was reflected through her music, and soft spoken nature. A nice transition between Riley’s upbeat style, and Nell’s emotional set. She played all original songs with great success. I spotted Coakley at the back of the audience during Mescal’s set, swaying and singing along, whilst occasionally taking a photograph, smiling proudly of her friend, reflective of the sweet, supportive atmosphere of this gig.
Anticipation had built by the time Mescal took to the stage. She stood front and centre with her band behind her. It was the first time her new EP, The Closest We’ll Get, has been played live and her small, but devoted audience knew every word. I saw her open for Florence and the Machine a few years ago at an outdoor gig. Her music was lovely then, but seeing her last Sunday, her growth was clear. I think her music performs exceptionally well in an intimate setting, the wind and rain outside added to this atmosphere, creating a complimentary scene for her softer, cosy, acoustic sound. When interviewed, Mescal had said she was surprised at how her songs evolved when performed live and that their initially heart-wrenchingly sad nature evolved into something more hopeful, which is completely true.
When reading the lyrics and listening alone, this EP is tragically sad. It reflects on missed opportunities in relationships, regret and questions of when and how to act. But live it seems to take on a new form, maybe because you can see its effect and relatability to people in front of your eyes, leaving the songs feeling not like an isolated experience, but more a rite of passage. My friend came with me, who had never heard a Nell Mescal song before, and a few days later said to me that she hasn’t been able to stop listening since. A glowing endorsement reflective of Mescal’s talent.
Image Credit to Xanthe Grammaticas