Chelsea Wolfe - First Unitarian Church - 02/08/13

By Emmett Shoemaker Mon., Feb. 11 2013 at 3:30 AM

Categories: Last Night

Continued from page 1

But if their audible in-take of breath was any indicator, many in the audience had been waiting to hear "Flatlands," the critical favorite off of Unknown Rooms. Performing the love song/topographical riddle, Wolfe pleaded for simplicity and consistency in love and all things: "I want flatlands, I don't want precious stones. I don't care about anything you ever owned." It's a remarkable song, all the more so when taken into account the simplicity of its two-chord structure.

Select cuts from Apokalypsis got the acoustic treatment as well. "Tracks (Tall Bodies)," a signature Wolfe song, translated well with the keys assuming much of the rhythmic duty. The plodding (contextually a propos) "Moses" was, in terms of volume, equal to its album counterpart.

The crowd was vocal when Wolfe said goodnight. "Thank you so much for being here," she said, returning alone to the stage for a single encore. "Can we please take down the lights?" And once again the church descended into a darkness that seemed, for Wolfe, a source of courage and inspiration. Nothing to be afraid of.

Personal bias: I think Chelsea Wolfe is great. My girlfriend says she's "a diva." We've fought about it.

Overheard in the crowd: "They should've inverted the crosses."

Random Notebook Dump: With set lamps casting a deep crimson on her white dress (one shoulder artfully torn), Wolfe looks not at all unlike Carrie, post-pigs blood.

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