Eleanor Friedberger @ The Independent 3/8/2016

After residing in the non-stop hustle and bustle Brooklyn for the last 15 years, Eleanor Friedberger recently relocated to upstate New York where she recorded her 3rd, solo, studio album, New View in a converted studio barn.

Eleanor Friedberger @ The Independent 3/8/2016
Photo by Marc Fong 

Since the release of the new album on January 22nd, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist and her backing band, Icewater have been on the road since last month and they'll be playing their new material at cozy little shows across the country through May! On Tuesday night, Eleanor Friedberger headlined at The Independent in SF with openers Icewater and China.Her unassuming stature was incomparable to the size of the strong vocals that emerged from the petite 39 year old. Low yet bold and reminiscent of PJ Harvey (because they're both small in size but deliver a big punch of sound when they sing), Eleanor Friedberger's voice sounds similar to that of Dum Dum Girls' lead singer Dee Dee: suggestively sultry, monotone and heavy with a 90's nostalgia. Her demur demeanor was met pleasantly as the handful of people sitting in the back of the room got up to join the small crowd as they inched closer to the stage. With her guitar slung over a fitted Canadian tuxedo, she looked awkwardly comfortable between Icewater's keyboardist, bassist and guitarist.

When the 5 of them were on stage together they were humble and ambiguously inviting with an introverted air.  Warm keys offered crisp slivers of optimism as the notes seamlessly blended within the mosaic of the stringed section and gently breezed through the venue. 

The dark lighting at The Independent that night fit well with their soft yet deep moody indie-rock and helped set a relaxed mood in the venue even more. The lyrics of the contemplative and introspective songs would make a great sound track for a long scenic drive along the coast, or in the woods, or sitting by a fire in a snowed-cabin whilst on your spiritual journey. Perhaps Eleanor's move played a part in her new outlook on life and the subtle shift in her soft, 70's inspired, indie-rock as the album's title, New View implies. 

Eleanor Friedberger @ The Independent 3/8/2016 
Photo by Marc Fong 

Her new outlook on life and love is  heard and understood most notably on what could be considered the first single off of her latest release, "Sweetest Girl": with low rumbling rolls of guitar, a simple yet rhythmic drum beat and repetitive verses it lulls you into hypnosis. The intricate addition of the sweet harmony of back-up vocals from Icewater's bassist and guitarist surprisingly nice on the ears. 

An Eleanor Friedberger show is like getting a glimpse at the pages of her journal whose passages are serenely pretty to hear live for everyone to enjoy. While it was pretty neat that Icewater was the supporting act and played their own music before taking the role as the backing band for the headliner,  Eleanor Friedberger, personally I preferred the as the later. 

The two acts continue touring until the end of Spring! Find out where they're playing  here.