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Allison Russell Brings Heart, Soul, Healing and a Little Bit of ‘Hadestown’ to L.A. Tour Stop: Concert Review

Allison Russell's 'Returner' tour, long put off by her stints with 'Hadestown' and Hozier, is now moving audiences like the one at L.A.'s Belasco.

You wouldn’t exactly call Russell a rock ‘n’ roll artist — she’s somewhere in the wide intersection of Americana, folk and soul, if it comes down to obvious genres — but “Stay Right Here” is undeniably a rocker, with Caoimhe Hopkinson laying down a signature electric guitar riff, bassist Ganessa James thickening up the mix and Caoi de Barra putting mallets where they matter. And, speaking of mothers, Russell also used the acoustic mid-set section to bust out the song that closed her 2021 “Outside Child” breakthrough album, with the impolite chorus line “Where in the world are the joyful motherfuckers?” (It was preceded, as usual, by an apology to any young children in the audience, whom she urged not to do what she has done.) That song would be an effective encore number for Russell, and has been, but after her “Hadestown” experience, she’s now sagely ending her performances with Anais Mitchell’s “We Raise Our Cups,” joined in a choral lineup by her band and also her very talented opening act, Kara Jackson.

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