04/25 @ Lark Hall, Albany

“Al Olender sported an immediate sense of ease from the get-go of her set, making for an hour of witty, endearing engagement with the crowd that rolled off her tongue just as gracefully as the ballads of love and heartbreak she bestowed upon us.”

Lark Hall felt like home for singer-songwriter Al Olender on April 25, as friends and family came to show their support for the Kingston-based artist. There was a comfortable, heartwarming feeling in the air throughout the evening, accompanied by reunions and long hugs.

Aubrey Haddard set the tone in her opening set, which could only be compared to a lightning bolt striking through the dark clouds that rolled in just as the night was taking shape. The one-woman show (other than the occasional help from a soundboard she deemed her trusty bandmate) carried enough power and emotion to fill the nearly 100-year-old performance venue to the very brim. I found myself glancing up to the high rafters and the chandeliers hanging from them, expecting to catch a glimpse of them shaking ever so slightly, because her sound was just that commanding. Captivating the crowd with her range and natural confidence on the stage, Haddard warmed the audience up quickly. Lucky for us, the conclusion of her solo set wasn’t the last time we’d be graced with her talent on the stage.

Al Olender sported an immediate sense of ease from the get-go of her set, making for an hour of witty, endearing engagement with the crowd that rolled off her tongue just as gracefully as the ballads of love and heartbreak she bestowed upon us. The first song of her set was “Spring Fever,” and it went straight for the heartstrings. It’s also worth noting that Al mentioned that the setlist that accompanied her on stage this particular night in Albany happened to be the first physical setlist she wrote during the entirety of the tour. This speaks to just how special the night really was. Though that’s not to say Al closed off the opportunity for guests to yell out song requests. It was a nice surprise to hear a stripped-down version of “The Cyclone,” my favorite track off of her latest record, The Worrier. The acoustic rendition placed even more of an emphasis on the captivating lyrics that tell the story of getting swept up in a whirlwind of love and lust.

After a few other spellbinding renditions featuring Al, her guitar, and hues of purple and blue mood lighting, she brought Aubrey back to the stage. Just as the two were about to reach for their guitars, Al told the audience she needed to pull Aubrey aside for a quick convo that she said was actually wildly necessary. While they both ran off stage, dialogue started back up among the bodies in the room. But just before the conversations could grow louder, Al and Aubrey briskly walked across the stage once more. They went right into more tunes, leaving us in suspense over what their secret meeting was all about.

It didn’t come as much of a surprise when Al shared that Aubrey played a part in every song on The Worrier. They shared such a connection both when performing together and seemingly as close friends — demonstrated in the way they interacted and the high praise they effortlessly gave one another. Their voices complemented each other so eloquently, with Al taking the reins on many of the high octaves, and Aubrey harmonizing with a captivating, deeper tone.

A few more tracks by Al carried us through the night, including favorites like “Halley’s Comet” and “Runner Up.” There was no shortage of yapping throughout the set, as Al put it, to which she admitted she couldn’t help but do because she was in her home territory. But the yapping was welcomed, even by the gentleman sitting by me, who asked if Al didn’t enjoy brandy after she said she would never go back to Wisconsin again. (He told me, apparently, they love their brandy out there, and alcohol in general.) This natural ability to command a room with song and conversation speaks to Al’s songwriting ability.

She enchanted the audience on this rainy Saturday night, yet remained humble even by the end. When she felt time creeping up on her, Al was debating shelling out three more songs, to which she asked if we really wanted to hear three more. “Isn’t it a lot to hear a singer-songwriter play for 52 minutes?” she jokingly asked. A voice in the crowd hollered, “NOOO, MORE!” Al then replied sarcastically with “OK, you’re being really New York about it. I love it. I missed it. But people in Santa Fe, New Mexico, were not talking to me like that.” But in reality, I think most people in the room, including Al, could agree that nothing less was to be expected of this homeward-bound show to wrap up over two months on the road. Al surely delivered, and the hometown heroes made sure to play their part in return.