By: Cassie Limberakis
CHICAGO– On May 8th, Allison Russell shined at The Vic Theater. The first time I had heard of her was on the song “Wildflowers & Barley,” off of Hozier’s most recent album, “Unreal, Unearth.”
Russell is a multi-instrumentalist and singer from Montreal, Canada. Fluent in both English and French, she writes music fluidly in both languages. Russell is very exuberant on stage and has a clear passion and joy for her craft. She plays with the genres of americana, gospel, pop, and jazz into a seamless blend that acts as a trademark for her unique sound. Her music is riddled with groovy bass lines, clarinet solos, and fun hooks, sure to make anyone jump out of their seats.
The opener of the night was named Kara Jackson. A Chicago native, from Oak Park, Illinois. Jackson’s song, “Pawn Shop,” is about how finding love is akin to thrifting. Saying it’s important to “remember your resale value.”
At one point during the show, Russell referred to Hozier fans, like myself, as “magical dryads’” who saw her potential and talent, allowing her career to soar.
In 2024, Russell made her Broadway debut in Hadestown as persephone, which perfectly complemented her single, “Persephone.”
Her spiritual sentiments are most evident in her lyrics from the song “Superlove,” With lyrics saying,“If there is a god then God is love.” In her music, she does an excellent job of blending activism and art. Her husband, JT Lindsay, came on stage for the song “American Flowers,” which is a love letter to American wildlife and the prosperity of equality for everyone on this earth. Before introducing her husband, she talked about the difficulties of raising a family, especially as a touring artist. After this performance, she gave a mention to her manager for helping take care of their baby while on tour.
Near the end of the show, Russell brought on two teenage girls to help her finish this Chicago run with a bang. She says a message of hope and light as fans leave the venue, “We have transcended worse in the past and we can do it again.”
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