Entering the historic Ryman Auditorium stage in what felt like a flash, Sierra Spirit and her musical partner-in-crime Mistine stood firmly at center stage ready to command the crowd. Draped in a chic gray pantsuit, Spirit contrasted her sharp look with effortlessly soft-spoken vocals. Spirit kicked off her set with three back-to-back heavy hitters: “ghost,” “better wild” and “televangelic,” all off her debut EP “coin toss,” which was released in October 2024.
The first trio of songs piqued my interest immediately, as Spirit’s skilled lyricism shone through — especially as it complimented her tone so well. The blend of melodic lyrics were said with such vulnerability that they flowed off the tongue, reminiscent of the lyrical prowess of a master like Phoebe Bridgers. Lyrics from “televangelic” become fully lodged into my consciousness.
“Complex of a savior / Turning water to wine / Only sorry when hе’s all out of time / Drunken Jesus,” Spirit sang.
Spirit took a moment after “televangelic” to acknowledge the audience and give thanks to headliner David Gray for having her on the North American leg of his tour. Spirit emphasized how fitting it felt to finish this tour at the historic Ryman.
“I have a question for you guys — how do you feel about Radiohead?” Spirit asked, addressing the audience.
The audience cheered and hollered, to Spirit’s delight, as she went into a cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” which was complemented by Mistine on the electric guitar, making the popular song sound even more eclectic. Despite not writing the song herself, Spirit certainly made it her own with her tender tone that brought out all the emotions of the hit-song to the forefront. Introducing her newest release, “American Pie,” Spirit reflected on her experience releasing music while on tour.
“The second or third show of this tour, my first single from my upcoming project came out, and it’s definitely very strange and one of the coolest things to play it here,” Spirit said.
Jumping into one of the most lively songs from her discography, Spirit showcased a punchier and heavier side to her vocal range, hitting high notes and runs that complemented the beat. Despite only taking up a small portion of the stage, Spirit was able to create movement and fluidity even if her songs didn’t exactly merit the jumping or dancing of a traditional pop or rock show.
Spirit then introduced her most personal song, “I’ll be waiting for you (pug),” which she wrote for her late grandmother who she grew up with. Sharing the story behind the lyrics and process of writing them, Spirit emphasized how fundamental her years spent with her family on the Native American reservation were for her.
“[My grandmother] told the same stories over and over, and I’d listen like it was the first time. Because of her, I found my own way of storytelling through songwriting,” Spirit said. “The night she passed, I struggled to say a lifetime of thank yous in a single night. For a long time, I felt like I never found the right words — until I wrote this song. If there’s someone you miss tonight, this is for you. This is for her.”
(Abbie Bobeck)
To end her set, Spirit and Mistine rocked out on the electric guitar to complement the punchy lyrics of the second track off “coin toss,” “bleed you.”
“Tell me everything that makes you hate yourself / And I’ll tell you how I’ll f— it up / Driving 15 minutes and having to pull off / And I’m breathing like I just ran from the cops,” Spirit performed.
For her final song, “easy,” Spirit brought all her energy and emotion to the heavy-hitting ballad, leaving new fans such as myself satiated with the true spirit (no pun intended) of good old songwriting.
