Los Angeles has a long tradition of singer-songwriters, from the Laurel Canyon scene of the late ’60s and early ’70s to the present. And one of the best singer-songwriters from that city working today is Madison Cunningham, who won Best Folk Album in 2023 for her second album, Revealer.
In her recent performance at the Historic Synagogue at Sixth & I, Cunningham put on an intimate performance that highlighted the continuing evolution of her art.
While her earlier records revolved around guitar, Cunningham’s latest release, last year’s Ace, is built around piano. Written in one month, August 2024, it chronicles a period of transition in her life, as she went through a divorce and entered into a new relationship. The comparisons to Joni Mitchell seem obvious, both in switching to piano and emphasizing the currents of jazz that have always been present in her music. his was brought to the forefront by her accompanist, who played saxophone on most of the numbers. Her songs have also gotten a bit longer, especially as she played them on March 31. While she won a Grammy for Best Folk Album, she’s not really a folk artist; her music is pop. (There’s a long tradition of singer-songwriters who aren’t folk musicians winning the award, including Warren Zevon and AImee Mann.)
While she has a powerful singing voice, Cunningham’s speaking voice is noticeably quieter, and she was sparing with stage banter, focusing on delivering the songs. Most of her set came from Ace: she began her set with “Shore” and played “Take Two,” “Skeletree,” “Golden Gate (On and On),” “Wake,” “My Full Name,” and “Goodwill.” She finished her main set with the album closer, “Best of Us.” Madison threw in a couple of old favorites, “All I’ve Ever Known” and “Hospital,” the latter of which was a nod to the local DC audience.
Watch the official music video for “Hospital” by Madison Cunningham on YouTube:
For her encore, Madison dug into her back catalog, playing “Life According to Rachael” solo and sending the audience home with “Song In My Head.”
The sanctuary of Sixth & I provided the perfect atmosphere for this show. For a room of its size, it feels particularly intimate, and its nature as a sacred space makes for a respectful, attentive audience. To really appreciate Cunningham’s music, the craft that goes into her melodies and lyrics, demands this kind of attention.
I wasn’t familiar with the opening act, fellow Los Angeles singer-songwriter Annika Bennett, but she impressed me with her songs. Two in particular stood out: one that she wrote during the wildfires that ravaged the city, and an unreleased song about falling in love. I look forward to becoming more familiar with her work.
This was my second team seeing Cunningham perform, and the two shows were very different. The first, at the Barns (a co-bill with Juana Molina) was entirely performed solo on acoustic guitar. While Ace has moved in a different direction, the same elements that made her earlier work appealing — the intricate melodies and excellent lyrics — are just as present in her latest work. Madison is still early in her career, and it will be fascinating to see what the future holds in store as she continues to grow and develop.
Visit Madison Cunningham online for more music and tour dates!
