Harping on it: Joanna Newsom at the National

Mechelle Hankerson
Assistant Spectrum Editor

Still riding the success of her third full-length album, February’s “Have One on Me”, songwriter Joanna Newsom performed at The National Saturday, Nov. 20 to a full crowd.

VCU junior Travis Lyle said, “There was a really big turnout for Richmond. There was already a really big line that had formed 30 minutes before the door had even opened.”

Newsom, who is a classically-trained harpist and pianist, powerhoused her way through almost two hours, with her devoted fans demanding a dual encore.

Chelsea Gilmer, a VCU senior has seen Newsom once before in Charlottesville, but was still riveted by Newsom’s live performance.

“I thought it was hypnotic because Joanna is expressive and emotional while she sings, and it was exciting because it was quite different from what you hear on one of her recordings because she actually makes an active attempt to change her voice, maker her songs different, and change musical arrangements from what is originally recorded on her CDs.”

Lyle had never seen Newsom before and was impressed with her ability to keep all her fans, new and old, engaged in her performance.

“t was really nice that she played a bunch of music from some of her earlier albums,” he said.

Neal Morgan, who played drums on her latest studio album, opened for Newsom, and was, according to Gilmer, equally as interesting to watch.

“The opening performer was really good as well, he was the drummer for her,” Gilmer said. “I think he did a really good job getting the crowd ready for her.”

“I thought it was cool that someone that she worked with got to show their own project they were working on,” said Lyle.

“She seemed to be having a lot of fun,” Gilmer said. “The audience was really enthusiastic.”

Newsom will be performing in New York City the evening of Monday the 22nd, and has no other tour dates until March when she will travel to Australia.