We Went There: Marissa Nadler at The Turf Club
Marissa Nadler rambled into the Turf Club (a perfect venue for her sound, fwiw) on Tuesday night for a great set of her dark, haunted Americana. She performed as a sparse duo that let her meticulous songwriting and otherworldly voice take front and center.
Switching between electric and acoustic guitar, Nadler’s sideman added a rustic twang and some foot pedal bass to round out her sound, but as always her magnetic voice was the main attraction. She prioritized tracks from her outstanding 2025 release New Radiations, but played songs from throughout her now fairly extensive catalog over the 75 minute set. There were many highlights, but a searing version of “All Out of Catastrophes” off her For My Crimes LP mid set was a definite highlights.
The Lynchian vibes of her were amplified by the simple red lights on the sparse stage, casting an ominous glow as she enchanted the crowd. Her music has always sounded to me like an exciting blend of crack singer-songwriter and funeral music, and she delivers it with the panache it deserves, even on a Tuesday night.
While her music is serious and even somber at times, she was sweet and funny between songs, keeping the crowd engaged throughout the set. I’ve moved away from listening to a lot of singer-songwriter stuff over the last decade, but Nadler has remained on the “don’t miss” list and seeing these songs live helped remind me why.
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