Angel Olsen Enchants Amsterdam at the Paradiso
by Kenneth Cox
The name Angel Olsen is practically tethered to the celestial. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter’s newest record, All Mirrors (released October 2019), is filled with indelible, heartbreaking tracks that sound as if they were made in a heavenly realm far away from ours. So, it’s fitting that the Paradiso, a cavernous 19th-century church-turned-concert venue (since 1968), was Amsterdam’s place to be as Angel Olsen took the stage on Thursday, February 6. With its towering stained glass windows, ancient wooden pews lining the balcony, and altar-esque stage facing it all, the Paradiso transformed into a house of worship for the patron saint of indie-rock heartbreak.
As thousands packed into the Paradiso, the venue was bathed in a scarlet light emanating from the stage. The venue’s twisting railings, gothic design, and expansive hall matched up with the ornate, spiral staircase featured on the stage’s backdrop. As the time came for Olsen to take the stage, the crowd hollered and clapped before settling into a respectful silence as the opening notes of “All Mirrors” rose out across the audience.
Olsen was joined onstage by a six-piece band, including a live string section, which managed to perfectly translate the lush, orchestral sound of Olsen’s latest record into a live setting. The song’s swelling, cinematic sound astounded the audience with Olsen’s commanding voice acting as a shining beacon amidst the torrent of music onstage.
Much of the show was dedicated to playing Olsen’s newest material. The first six songs of the set covered the emotional peaks and valleys of All Mirrors, all with fantastic results. Songs like “Summer,” a turn towards the wild-west country for Olsen, saw the stage soaked in orange light and projections of flames, all while Olsen lit up the stage with incredible energy.
Other points of her set, like her performance of “Impasse,” showcased the singer’s unrivaled vocal power, pushing her voice to the extreme as the band around her broke out into crashing, overwhelmingly emotional melodies. For much of the set, these songs were played with a serious, determined cadence, matched by the audience’s respectful applause and silence while they played.
After the emotional heft of the show’s first half, Olsen’s gig came into a more lighthearted, exciting mood. “You guys wanna hear some older stuff?” Olsen asked before breaking into “Sister,” a ’70s tinged rock epic from her 2016 record, My Woman. For over eight minutes, Olsen and her band tore through smooth riffs, dreamy choruses, and lengthy breakdowns before culminating in a shredding, cathartic guitar solo.
Later on, she surprised the audience by telling them she was to be playing a new track that night. “I’ve been writing this one while touring for a bit, and I think tonight’s the time to play it,” she said. This was just for a laugh though, as the “new track” was her biggest hit, “Shut Up Kiss Me.” “Let my manager know if you like that one!” she said once the song was over. This moment was a welcome change of pace, balancing the heaviness of the show’s first half with a lighter conclusion.
As Angel Olsen came out for her encore, singing the closing track from All Mirrors, “Chance,” it felt like the soothing end to the emotional journey experienced by Olsen’s entire audience. From shattering heartbreak to buzzing excitement, Angel Olsen’s performance felt as if it spanned the spectrum of feeling, creating an unforgettable show from one of music’s finest working artists.