Longtime fans of Nashville singer-songwriter Tristen Gaspadarek were treated to a wide-ranging live set at a recent show at Brooklyn’s Union Pool. On the heels of her fizzy 2017 release Sneaker Waves, Tristen might have stuck behind her signature keyboard for the entirety of the show, but instead, we were treated to a more rock and roll, guitar-heavy set, with no keys and no synth. After a long stint in Jenny Lewis’ touring band, it was a thrill to see Tristen back up front, leading her band through a spotless collection of songs. Taking the stage following a couple of moody sets from openers Domino Kirke and Wilder Maker, Tristen had the crowd grooving in no time.
Opening with “Eager For Your Love”, one of the singles off her 2011 record Charlatans at the Gate, it was clear Tristen wasn’t limiting her set to just new tunes off Sneaker Waves. Rocking out on guitar alongside husband and lead guitarist Buddy Hughen, Tristen’s usual angelic voice sounded strong and rich. The audience was visibly appreciative of her inclusion of songs like “Baby Drugs” and “Dark Matter”, both older favorites off Charlatans at the Gate and 2013’s Caves, respectively. Just before she came on stage, one fan nearby mentioned “Baby Drugs” was the first song he learned to play on guitar.
After playing the surefire bops off Sneaker Waves, “Got Some”, “Glass Jar” and “Partying is Such Sweet Sorrow”, Tristen had a little fun with a thoughtful batch of covers. Most notably, she gave a captivating rendition of The Smiths’ “There is a Light That Never Goes Out”, which was oddly suited to Tristen’s voice. She slinked off the front of the stage and into the crowd, her hair partially obscuring her face, Veronica Lake-style, as she gave herself over to the dramatic nature of the song. By her final song, she held us in the palm of her hand as she and Hughen delivered a minimalistic, sing-along version of Sneaker Waves’ “Psychic Vampire”. It was an epic finale to a blast of a show.
