Concert review: St. Vincent at the Kessler Theater in Dallas (October 22)

by Brenna Rushing

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Annie Clark's presentation was nothing short of magnificent.

Stepping into the Kessler Theater on Saturday night and observing the eclectic and subtle crowds, it would be a challenge to guess what show was about to go on. The wide range of ages, groups, and social circles filled the small theater for the first of two sold-out St. Vincent shows. Hometown love for Annie Clark hasn’t faded.

The stage gave way to various sized speakers and equipment, all strategically placed, hinting at the amount of detail her show requires. As soon as Clark started with “Surgeon,” the first single off of Strange Mercy, the intricate placement made sense. The guttural bass lines and electric riffs require delicate attention; without them, her music would just be another indie rock experience. But when correctly delivered, the music is stunning.

Clark focused intently on producing the timing of each pedal perfectly, bringing in her jagged electric riffs or hitting each echoing lyric. Much of her style follows the “remix” mentality of creating a constant repetition of lines, which is easy in the studio but very difficult onstage. She’s mastered this elaborate task, showing off her skills in “Save Me From What I Want.” The relaxing and artful nature of her songs blended with her choppy words, bringing the full room to a standstill.

Although Clark's songs are anything but subdued, there's a peacefulness to them, like a warm bath after a long day. This feeling came alive in “Just the Same But Brand New,” a track about a client Clark had heard of who wanted her 1950s Upper East Side apartment completely re-designed by rebuilding all of her furniture in the exact same size and style. Clark's vivid and magical prose entranced us, and we thirsted for more lines of heartbreak and desire. Her 15-song set ended all too abruptly, and was finished by a brief encore.

Clark continuously thanked the audience, saying that she recorded the recently released Strange Mercy just two miles from the theater. The adoring audience, appropriately, thanked her back.

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