“This is going to be a test of my ADHD medication,” folk singer Willi Carlisle told the audience in his recent performance at Union Stage.

It was also a test of my ability to take notes and my memory; to say he spoke a mile a minute would be an understatement. (I quickly gave up on trying to write down his stage banter, as there was simply too much of it and he moved too quickly.) In his first headlining performance in the DC area, Willi proved to be an energetic, engaging, and entertaining performer.

In the best traditions of classic folk artists, Willi Carlisle sings about common people and there struggles and critiques structures of oppression. At Union Stage on August 22, his set was filled with little life hacks, like the advice that you can get enough paint for a project by going into Home Depot and asking for a sample, then sending in one friend after another to get more samples. His set included some neat visual aids — he designed the backdrop himself, and one song was accompanied by a puppet show, all of which he put together himself on the cheap.

Willi started his set of with “a little bit of talking blues,” asking the audience to “imagine we’ve been together in a van for about six months,” before playing “Peculiar, Missouri.” He followed that up with “What The Rocks Don’t Know,” then the title cut of his latest album, Critterland. Critterland, he explained, was inspired by his brief stay in an intentional community — that is to say, a commune — in Arkansas.

Watch the official music video for “Critterland” by Willi Carlisle on YouTube:

Next up was the “Great Depression,” followed by “Dry County Dust.” The commune where he briefly lived, Willi explained, was a dry town surrounded by dry counties, which made it very difficult to get a hold of alcohol. After “Higher Lonesome,” Willi brought on Anna Tivel, who opened the show, to play violin on “The Small Things.” Taking up that instrument himself, he commented on what an amateur he is compared to Anna before playing “I Want No Children,” a song I can relate to.

Several years ago, when he took a teaching position, Willi lived in his van for several months, which inspired “Vanlife.” His distaste for magicians inspired “The Last Magician in Tulsa.” (I recently saw a study that says magic is one of the hobbies women find most off-putting in a man.) For the sole cover of the evening, he played Richard Thompson’s “Beeswing” on the harmonium; it was a wise decision not to play guitar on that song, as virtually anyone would seem limited on the instrument compared to RT.

Introducing “Two-Headed Lamb,” Carlisle explained he how kept seeing the same tattoo on a number of his trans friends. He learned the tattoo was inspired by a poem by Mary Gilpin, “The Two-Headed Calf.” This song, he said, went out to anyone who felt they weren’t made to fit the world. It was definitely the saddest song of the evening, a real emotional gut punch.

Watch Willi Carlisle perform “Two-Headed Lamb” live on eTown via YouTube:

“The Money Grows On Trees,” Willi said, was inspired by a real story, about a sheriff who was involved in the illicit marijuana trade. He rounded out the set with “Jaybird,” “Cheap Cocaine,” and a sing-along of “Your Heart Is A Big Tent.” He talked about how he’s working on accepting his past mistakes. I offered, “If you’re feeling bad about the mistakes you’ve made, just remember Sheryl Crow dated Kid Rock.” “That’s going to come back to me at night,” he replied. For his encore, he did “Angels.”

Anna Tivel’s opening set was much less frantic than Willi’s, but she’s no less a character. After her second song, “The Question,” she praised the audience for listening so quietly and attentively, then added, “I’m afraid I’m going to fart up here.” “The Question,” she explained, “is about watching somebody change in front of your eyes from what the world wanted them to be into what they really were.” She kicked things off with “Velvet Curtain,” after which she compared DC to “Narnia for politicians.” “The Question” was followed by “Black Umbrella.” She introduced “Figure It Out” as a song about “that moment when you’re in love, it’s going so well, and one of you says something really shitty.” “The Dial” was followed by a couple of songs about “the science-fiction of death” and “the science-fiction of death” and “the science-fiction of babies.” She also played a new song for the audience.

Anna’s songs were terrific, and she was a delight, if not as high-energy as Willi. And that’s not saying much, as Willi is one of the most energetic live performers I’ve ever seen. It works well for him; his show never slows down or drags, and my attention never wandered while he was on stage. He’s a singular character you have to see to appreciate.

Here are some photos of Anna Tivel opening Willi Carlisle at Union Stage on August 22, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.

Here are some photos of Willi Carlisle performing at Union Stage on August 22, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.