On Sunday the 8th of June, Paris Paloma (an indie folk pop singer-songwriter who gained notoriety with the release of the feminist single “Labour” in 2023) took to the stage for her sold out show in Dublin’s 3Olympia theatre! The nightlong anticipation from the gathered crowd was palpable, with a huge number of her largely female fanbase going so far as to arrive dressed in what I’d call cottagecore or renaissance faire garb. I settled in near the back of a busy standing area where I could take in the style on display and also admire the stage, which was decorated with what looked to be hand drawn sketches that matched the artwork the singer usually pairs with her releases.
The Amsterdam-based duo of Julia and Sarah Nauta were a great opening act choice, and their familiar indie / folk vibe and unique vocalisations did a good job at keeping the venue calm but entertained. Their set included plenty of slow and introspective tracks that made the time spent waiting for our headliner drift by at the perfect pace. We got roughly half an hour between their end and Paris Paloma’s start, per the standard, but they didn’t steal a single ounce of her thunder.
Paris Paloma herself is transcendent on stage. Her presence is huge, and it’s not as if I ever had much doubt of this, but she’s incredible live; her energy is infectious, with plenty of joyous dancing across stage (even to the obligatory “Olé, Olé,” from the Irish crowd) and dramatic swooshes of her skirts paired with strong, powerful vocals. Her emotional bridges are aided, here, not by the layered vocalisations on her debut album but the sound of the sold out venue screaming along with every line. Maybe I’m biased as the exact demographic that she probably most appeals to, but it was so cathartic to both participate and hear other people participating in this way. A lot of her songs are self described ‘feminist anthems’ that gain well deserved traction because of how much that straightforward brand of feminism is needed in the market, and the pack dynamic of a woman filled crowd that was forming in the standing area was electric.
I’m a huge fan of what I like to call ‘modern bard music’, or well crafted, folksy tracks that blend a modern sound with fantastical storytelling you just don’t get much of, elsewhere. I don’t know whether it’s the Lord of the Rings lover inside of her (a live rendition of “The Rider”, her entry to the recent War of the Rohirrim soundtrack was accompanied by an anecdote about how her first live performance was a cover of “I See Fire” by Ed Sheerhan, when she was 13) or the fact that she so deftly blends classic mythos with current issues (“the fruits” is a heavy handed Adam & Eve analogy, while the official music video for – and merch stand t shirt of – the popular “Labour” includes pomegranate imagery clearly drawing a parallel between the modern woman’s struggles in the current climate with the Greek myth of Hades & Persephone), but she has constantly proven herself to be one of the best at those sort of songs. The sheer power in her words (and the rightful rage often fueling them) wasn’t lost, live, and was actually elevated by the setting. I particularly enjoyed the way that red lights were used during “Labour”, making some of the fiery sketches on stage behind her look as if they were dancing with actual flame.
Again, I’m biased. It catered to all of the things I most love, but I think that regardless of your taste, Paris Paloma has an attention grabbing presence worth experiencing, if she’s ever back in our neck of the woods. If you learn a few of the most popular songs, you can even let off some steam by screaming along with the rest of the crowd.
Sarah Julia photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Use A Friend
Game Of Pretend
How Do You Fall In Love So Easily?
Daughters
Cairngorms
Amsterdam
Paris Paloma photos & set-list:
Set-list:
Intro
My Mind – now
Drywall
As Good A Reason
Knitting Song (with Sarah Julia)
Good Boy
The Warmth
Escape Pod
Notre Dame
Last Woman On Earth
Triassic Love Song
Bones On The Beach
The Rider
The Fruits
Yeti
Hunter
_________________________
Labour
Photos – Ian Mc Donnell @mcgigmusic
Words – Rachel Cooney