In May, Jessica Pratt released Here in the Pitch, her fourth studio album, and announced a tour in support of it! That tour recently arrived at the Howard Theatre in DC, and Nalinee Darmrong was there to photograph the show.
The following article is adapted from a press release.
At the Howard Theatre on July 29, Pratt showcased Here in the Pitch in her setlist. Over the last 12 years, the revered Los Angeles artist has become one of the most singular songwriters of her generation, largely through the mystical, elusive blend of just her delicate acoustic guitar and breathtaking vocals.
Here in the Pitch, however, is a very different kind of album from Pratt and features some of her most adventurous music yet. She envisioned a more expansive set of influences — “big panoramic sounds that make you think of the ocean and California” — and throughout these nine songs, timpani, glockenspiel, baritone saxophone, and flute are layered alongside robust vocal arrangements that create a triumphant mood, even when the lyrics hint at devastation.
Jessica opened the show with the new album’s “World on a String” and closed the set with “Life Is.” “Life Is” highlights the production style of Here in the Pitch. A percussion roll nods to the grand, orchestral style of ’60s pop hits like the Walker Brothers’ “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore.”
Meanwhile, the lyrics are an impressionistic paean to the vagaries of ambition. “Life came and went and you didn’t land where you thought you would,” Pratt said. “It’s the third act and you’re trying to climb back on the horse before it gets dark.”
The mesmerizing video, co-directed by Colby Droscher and Pratt, was shot around New York City in late 2023 and looks to the films of Kenneth Anger and Stan Brakhage for inspiration.
Watch the official music video for “Life Is” by Jessica Pratt on YouTube:
Pratt worked on Here in the Pitch at Gary’s Electric Studio in Brooklyn with her trusted collaborators, multi-instrumentalist/engineer Al Carlson and keyboardist Matt McDermott, and enlisted the rhythm duo of bassist Spencer Zahn and percussionist Mauro Refosco (David Byrne, Atoms for Peace) and contributors Ryley Walker, Peter Mudge (Mac Miller, JID), and Alex Goldberg. Five years after her 2019 breakthrough album Quiet Signs, Here in the Pitch sees Pratt re-emerging with new ambition and new parameters for what her music can be.
The lo-fi band @ opened for Jessica Pratt at the Howard Theatre on July 29. Here are a few photos of them.
Here are some photos of Jessica Pratt and her band performing at the Howard Theatre on July 29, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Nalinee Darmrong.
Great show and beautiful photos!