Written by Zahra Hanif
Upon a stormy Friday evening in November, Nell Mescal shone down on Leeds to deliver to us some sweet relief in the form of her signature whimsical charm. The indie-pop princess made a stop at Brudenell Social Club as part of her ‘The Closest We’ll Get’ tour, delivering a gorgeous, warming set to a packed-out community room.
While Mescal remains an up-and-comer for the moment, it was immediately obvious to me when I arrived at the venue that the fans she has are devout. I entered the room to a sea of bows on fans wearing merch from previous tours, a testament to their passion, born from her talent.
With an immaculate pre-show playlist on loop, energy was high before either of the acts even stepped onto the stage, with the likes of Gracie Abrams and Role Model warming us up. By the time Cece Coakley stepped onto the stage, we were buzzing.
Coakley, hailing from Nashville, played a stunning acoustic set, her incredible vocal range on full display as she was equipped with nothing but her guitar. The content of her songs was in a similar vein to Nell’s, depicting love and heartache. We swayed along to her harmonies for a half-hour, mesmerised by her sweet tones and anchored by her relatability.
The main act of the night was preceded by a switch in stage set-up, as fairy lights were draped around the microphone stands, enhancing the intimate feel of the venue. Mescal’s band entered onto the stage one by one, so that the anticipation in the air was tangible before she walked on and to her spotlight.
While her songs are generally downbeat, her live show was anything but, as her outpourings of emotion were recycled into energetic anthems, the combination of her otherworldly vocals and her fans going lyric-for-lyric with her, shaking the room. A particular highlight was one of her older cuts, ‘Killing Time’, as her lyrics “Did I give it up?” swirled around the room above us, electrifying the atmosphere.
Between songs, she took time to connect with the crowd, providing anecdotes and expressing her appreciation for our being there. It was a genuine display that endeared her to us all the more, if her astonishing setlist wasn’t enough (it more than was).
All in all, the night was a mesmerising display from one of the most exciting indie-popstars we have right now. Hypnotic and charming, Nell Mescal is one to watch.
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