Julie Byrne and The Greater Wings

^{Article and photos by Natalie Silva}

Julie Byrne graced Thalia Hall this summer with an intimate performance of her album “The Greater Wings” and select songs off of “Not Even Happiness”. In true fashion, Julie Byrne’s set was soft and ethereal, and full of raw emotion. Taking the audience through bits and pieces of her songwriting process, and paying homage to the various people and places who have inspired her work, this concert was one to remember. 

Opening for Julie Byrne was Angel Bat Dawid, a unique and powerful performer. She provided the audience with a multitude of performance mediums including singing, playing clarinet, layering, and more. She encouraged, no, required, audience participation as she performed. Whether it was playing one of the provided instruments, singing, or clapping, Angel Bat Dawid made sure every person in the room was involved in her musical process. It was inspiring to see it unfold, and by the end of the set there was no doubt that she had made an impact on the room. Her songs incorporated spirituality and activism, providing a sermon-like performance and telling of her struggles as a Black woman in America. It was impossible to pinpoint a start or finish to each song, which added to the uniqueness of this particular performance and artist. Angel Bat Dawid continues to push the limits of the music industry and it was a gift to witness her creativity in the flesh.

Julie Byrne had the crowd gather closer to the floating stage as she got ready to begin her portion of the night’s performance. Performing nearly all of the tracks off of her album “The Greater Wings,” including favorites “The Greater Wings” and “Summer Glass,” Julie Byrne had the audience in a trance from start to finish. Her voice was like velvet, full and soft, and contrasted the loud applause at the end of each song. She was an intentional performer, restarting the song if she missed a note on her guitar, and attempting perfection. This was achieved, and she glided through her set with ease, only stopping to draw attention to her friends, family, and musical partners. She noted that much of her latest album was written in Chicago, with walks by Lake Michigan inspiring her lyrics. Julie strayed from her performance of “The Greater Wings” album to give her long-time fans exactly what they wanted. She played “Natural Blue,” off of “Not Even Happiness” before returning to her album’s conclusion with “Death is the Diamond”. Julie Byrne left the stage in a flurry of congratulations, thanks, and applause. She quickly returned however, with a glass of wine in hand for an encore and lovely performance of “Sleepwalker”. The night felt magical and Julie Byrne’s talent was evident. As the evening came to a close it was clear Chicago appreciated every moment of the concert and will be coming back next time Julie Byrne is in town!

You can listen to Julie Byrne here.