First impressions matter, and Sierra Spirit wanted to make a good one for her Chicago debut Sunday night. After commanding the Chicago Theatre crowd’s attention with the hypnotically assertive opener “Ghost”—which also kicks off her 2024 EP coin toss—the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based singer removed her ash-gray blazer to reveal a t-shirt adorned with the Bulls logo.
“I got dressed up for our date,” she said with a quiet grace, before shedding any nervousness and confidently launching into the twangy “Better Wild.”
The nod to the Bulls was a nice touch but Spirit’s sparse yet captivating performance would have earned accolades even if she’d shown up in a Pistons jersey (not that we’d recommend it).
The rising singer-songwriter began her supporting stint on David Gray’s Past and Present tour just over a week before this Chicago Theatre appearance, leaning into her indigenous roots with storytelling and a focus on intimately connecting with audiences. When I spoke with her a few days prior to the show, she mentioned how her minimal approach—she’s accompanied onstage only by a single guitarist—allows her to feel especially present onstage, and the smallest moments during her set were indeed the most powerful.
The songs that best resonated were the ones that took advantage of that modest setup, such as a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” which contrasted Spirit’s pristine vocals and the guitarist’s disarmingly gorgeous harmonies with gritty punctuating guitar stings, and “I’ll Be Waiting (Pug),” which the singer prefaced with a poignant reflection about saying goodbye to a loved one—in this case, Spirit’s beloved grandmother.
“How do I possibly say a lifetime of ‘thank you’s in one night?” Spirit wondered aloud as she explained that performing the song has given her peace in knowing she’s finally found the right words. For those three minutes, the stage seemed to shrink, with Spirit warmly inviting the crowd into a deep and vulnerable conversation.
The only downside to the understated direction was that some songs required backing tracks which occasionally overpowered Spirit’s gentle lead vocals and distracted from the already compelling atmosphere. Though the studio rendition of her new single “American Pie” is a breezy slice of country-pop fun, a stripped-down live take would have been equally effective in showcasing the song’s catchy hook.
Even so, the dynamic eight-song set offered a great taste of what this up-and-coming artist is capable of and gave the audience more than enough reason to want a second date. And if there’s any justice in the world, next time it’ll be the audience dressing up in their Sierra Spirit t-shirts.
This review was written by guest author Anthony Cusumano.