Gillian Welch and David Rawlings' performance at the Apollo was a masterclass in subtlety and chemistry, with the duo delivering a spellbinding 23-song set that left the audience entranced. The intimate setup, featuring just two stools and a tiny amplifier, belied the enormity of their sound, which swelled and ebbed like the American heartland itself.
Rawlings' Stetson-topped figure pogoed across the stage, his fingers dancing across vintage guitar strings as he conjured plaintive melodies reminiscent of Cat Stevens. Welch, meanwhile, glided effortlessly on her own instrument, her flowing dress billowing behind her like a spaghetti western poster child. Her voice soared and swooped, conjuring images of mountain ranges, open skies, and the hum of railroads.
As they navigated largely sad themes of loss and longing, the pair's rapport was palpable, their banter a delightful counterpoint to the songlines. The occasional foray into jokey repartee – Welch playfully quipping "Oh, God. Do I have to tell a joke now?" as Rawlings tuned up – only added to the evening's charm.
Welch and Rawlings are at the apex of their powers, their pairing – forged through years of collaboration on each other's albums – a match made in heaven. The duo's musical chemistry was on full display, with Welch and Rawlings trading lead vocals and harmonies like seasoned pros.
Highlights abounded, from Rawlings' heart-wrenching Ruby to Welch's wistful What We Had. The pair also delivered a pointed tribute to Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, which felt curiously timely. An encore that defied the law of diminishing returns saw the pair bring out bassist Paul Kowert for an unforgettable rendition of Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic-era anthem White Rabbit.
In short, Welch and Rawlings are two artists in love with their craft, and it shows in every note they play. As the house lights went up and the crowd clamored for more, it was clear that neither party wanted the evening to end – a testament to the enduring magic of this pair's partnership.
Rawlings' Stetson-topped figure pogoed across the stage, his fingers dancing across vintage guitar strings as he conjured plaintive melodies reminiscent of Cat Stevens. Welch, meanwhile, glided effortlessly on her own instrument, her flowing dress billowing behind her like a spaghetti western poster child. Her voice soared and swooped, conjuring images of mountain ranges, open skies, and the hum of railroads.
As they navigated largely sad themes of loss and longing, the pair's rapport was palpable, their banter a delightful counterpoint to the songlines. The occasional foray into jokey repartee – Welch playfully quipping "Oh, God. Do I have to tell a joke now?" as Rawlings tuned up – only added to the evening's charm.
Welch and Rawlings are at the apex of their powers, their pairing – forged through years of collaboration on each other's albums – a match made in heaven. The duo's musical chemistry was on full display, with Welch and Rawlings trading lead vocals and harmonies like seasoned pros.
Highlights abounded, from Rawlings' heart-wrenching Ruby to Welch's wistful What We Had. The pair also delivered a pointed tribute to Woody Guthrie's This Land Is Your Land, which felt curiously timely. An encore that defied the law of diminishing returns saw the pair bring out bassist Paul Kowert for an unforgettable rendition of Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic-era anthem White Rabbit.
In short, Welch and Rawlings are two artists in love with their craft, and it shows in every note they play. As the house lights went up and the crowd clamored for more, it was clear that neither party wanted the evening to end – a testament to the enduring magic of this pair's partnership.
, you can feel the emotions pouring out of them as they play these super sad songs. I mean Gillian Welch has got this voice that just takes you to another world, it's like she's singing about your own life or something 
. And David Rawlings' guitar playing is so cool, he makes it sound like a whole new instrument 
. The way they work together is just magic 
, I love how they trade vocals and harmonies like pros. It feels like they're meant to be up there on stage together, you know? 
and gillian welch is literally the queen of those soaring vocals 
what really got me though was how raw and honest their songwriting is, like they're sharing their deepest fears and hopes with us and it feels so cathartic 
i'm all for the encore vibes too, paul kowert's bass playing added such a nice layer to white rabbit 
anyone else feel like they've been transported to another world by gillian and david's music?
I'm still trying to figure out how Gillian Welch and David Rawlings manage to make their 23-song set feel like an intimate conversation rather than a bunch of songs strung together 
. But what really got my attention was that one moment when they did that Woody Guthrie cover... it felt so relevant to current events 
. Can we please have more of those kinds of performances on the platform? 
Give me something concrete to critique. Was the sound good? Did it feel intimate? Can I even read between the lines here or not? 
! Their chemistry is insane - it's like they were meant to be on stage together 
. They have that special spark that makes you believe every word they sing about heartache and longing 
. And can we talk about how cute Rawlings looked in his Stetson? 
But seriously, their music is just magic - I was completely entranced from start to finish 
. The fact that they're still killing it after all these years is a testament to their talent and dedication 
. And wow, what an encore! White Rabbit with Paul Kowert on bass? Mind blown 
and I'm still reeling from the experience! They totally killed it on stage, their chemistry was electric 
. I mean, who knew two people playing acoustic guitars could make you feel all those deep emotions? It was like they were speaking straight to my soul 
. And that encore with Paul Kowert on bass... mind blown 