JOY OLADOKUN LIVE!! | LINCOLN THEATER
Coverage by Larissa Blankenship
Joy Oladokun played to a packed house at Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, NC on February 11th as part of “The Blackbird Tour”. The rain outside did not deter fans as the venue quickly filled in preparation for Oladokun to take the stage. The show opened with a short solo acoustic set where Oladokun performed various songs from her catalog, including some from her most recent album Observations From a Crowded Room. She also combined her songs with covers such as “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie. With her voice filling the venue, Oladokun sang with the same power and talent as can be heard on her records.
After a short break, the full band took to the stage for the main set which began with “Letter From a Blackbird”. Between songs Oladokun spoke candidly on her life experiences and her feelings regarding aspects of the music industry. Reflecting on current and past challenges she shared that although it can be hard at times she still finds fulfillment in songwriting and performing. Oladokun also spoke on her experiences meeting and collaborating with other artists such as Chris Stapleton. The main set closed with “Dust/Divinity” and included multiple electric guitar solos by Oladokun which were met with loud cheers from her fans. The band returned to the stage for a short encore with Oladokun playing her iconic pink Hello Kitty electric guitar. The very last song ended the night full circle with a solo acoustic performance of Oladokun’s song “Flowers” combined with “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen. Oladokun shared that she originally wrote “Flowers” to be considered for Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album, but after it was turned down she decided to include it in the track list for Observations From a Crowded Room. Oladokun’s songwriting along with her ability to make a crowded venue feel like a gathering of close friends makes “The Blackbird Tour” a show you do not want to miss.
