Odie Leigh is a folk lover’s dream. With her Americana roots and bluesy voice, Leigh’s flowing lyricism and toe-tapping melodies are a force to be reckoned with. In previous shows, Leigh has mentioned that she is a girl who “makes music,” not a “musician;” I would beg to differ. On her Carrier Pigeon tour, Leigh proves herself to be a true musician, making clear that she has no plans of limiting herself to her guitar-plucking roots. Odie wants to explore, and it’s a privilege to watch her grow into her voice.
The Central Texas heat did not stop the considerable crowd gathered to watch Odie Leigh capture our ears, and hearts, on Sept. 20 at the dusty Scoot Inn. Accompanied by a full band, Leigh displayed her natural showmanship, finding the balance between jamming with her all-female band and fostering the intimate environment she is known for.
Leigh and her band opened with “My Name on a T-Shirt,” setting the romantic tone for the show. This would not be the soft folky atmosphere of shows gone by; this would be a pulsing, angsty show dedicated to letters left unsent.
Following up with “No Doubt,” Leigh and her band captured the hopeful nothings that crushes are made of. In line with the show’s tenderness, Leigh continued with “Already (On My Mind).” The track’s throbbing baseline was reminiscent of a heartbeat; a feeling that was compounded when the driving pulse reverberated off the fences surrounding the small venue.
The next two songs took us back to Leigh’s 2022 EP, How Did it Seem To You?, with a twist. With the band present, the heartwrenching breakup song, “Month or Two,” alongside the self-sacrificing love song, “Nine Lives,” were both given new depth. Though the band comes in and out throughout both songs, Leigh often returns the focus back to her simple guitar plucking. The best way to describe these moments is introspective. Leigh doesn’t let her audience mentally clock out of these shows; we are all forced to think a little, a quality I think many shows could recreate.
Sixth and seventh, “Either Way” and “As Sure As I’m Speaking,” gave Leigh the opportunity to let loose and rock out with her band. Then, Leigh wasted no time moving on to a heartfelt unreleased song about traveling and being on the road. Though many of us can’t relate to being artists on tour, we can all understand Leigh’s pleading lyrics asking for a “bed to sleep in.” The ephemerality of this song is what makes it so special; one can almost forgive her for keeping it to herself if only for the chance to hear it live.
Following this, Leigh’s jazzy vocals shone through in the track that started Leigh’s career: “Crop Circles.” After, the band came back out and pulled out all the stops for “Party Trick.” Leigh headed face-first into this lively track, teaching the audience to sing along to the bridge. Then, she flipped the show onto its head. The group sped the track’s ending up and added a flair that I can only liken to house music. A quick glance around the venue revealed nodding heads, tapping toes, and smiling faces all around. This song was so, so different and so, so fun.
During the next three songs, “Ronnie’s Song,” “Bigger Fish,” and “A Good Thing,” Leigh and the band reminded us of her show’s consistent overarching theme, no matter where or when: “be kind.” When these songs hit our ears, we all seemed to agree that, if nothing else, we would leave the show feeling more love for those around us than when we came in.
Flipping the switch entirely, Leigh and the band went into the jaded “Sheep Song,” all about men and their sub-par relationship skills. The gritty drums, dissonant guitar, and Leigh's strained voice gave the song just the right amount of ugly. Though it might have seemed out of place, Leigh and the band worked as one to churn our stomachs and capture how it feels for a romantic to come back to earth.
With her second to last song, “Conversation Starter,” the band used feisty melodies to tie the light song back to its moody predecessor. Rounding out the night, Leigh ended with the same song she ends every show with: “Take Back.” As her intro into this song, Leigh asks the audience to use those few minutes to take back some time that’s been wasted on someone or something. With her soft voice repeating her desire to “take back some of (her) time,” paired with the toned-down band, the song was the perfect way to end a beautifully steamy night.
Odie Leigh’s concerts, no matter how big, are always just as intimate as her first tiny shows. Only Leigh can foster that level of intimacy while still feeling genuine. As her last words to the crowd, Leigh asked that we tell a friend or two about her music, and hopefully I’m doing her right by telling just a few more.
