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Olive Klug is an artist that I have listened to for years, and I finally got the chance to see them solo in Western Massachusetts. They released their debut album Don’t You Dare Make Me Jaded last year and just recently released their debut independent single, “What To Make Of Me.” They have made a name for themself in the indie-folk scene, playing countless shows over the years and sharing their music across social media.

Klug’s music blends influences from folk, rock, pop, country, and bluegrass, often exploring themes of growing up, identity, and heartbreak. I resonate heavily with the songs they create, and after seeing them last February with a full band, I was pumped to see them perform solo in a more intimate setting.

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silvie’s Okay

The night started with Western Massachusetts-based Silvie’s Okay. As the project of Vince Thompson and friends, his country-folk music takes inspiration from the nostalgic pop-country of his childhood.

Sporting a cowboy hat and boots, he kicked off his set with a few solo performances before bringing out the rest of his band. The songs, mostly unreleased, featured fiddle solos, energetic rums, and impressive vocals. From singing about butch lesbians, moths, and infidelity, Silvie’s Okay’s provided unique, queer-coded country-folk music, while also laying a foundation for Olive Klug’s set.

olive klug

Olive Klug is such a unique songwriter and artist whose music I often connect to. Their vulnerable songwriting is unlike any other and is what drew me to their music in the first place. I truly enjoyed their stage presence seeing them in the past, so I was beyond excited to see them in a much more intimate setting.

The show began with Klug sharing that their first song was a special request after someone Venmoed them $15, which instantly created a fun and comfortable atmosphere for the rest of the show. The first few rows of people were sitting down, emphasizing the coziness of this intimate space. Their idea for the show was to make it an Olive Klug “Eras Tour,” with the setlist composed of three different sections, or rather eras, of their life in order. I thought this was a great way to make a solo show unique. Hearing their older songs they had written in high school and college, like “Not Forever After” and “Sailor Song” allowed me to reflect on my adolescence and similar experiences to those they had written about.

The set was full of small anecdotes about Klug’s life, which I greatly enjoyed hearing. Before the last section of the show, they invited their friend onstage to sing a mashup of “Silk Chiffon” by MUNA and “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer. It turns out they had met years ago while being camp counselors together, having crushes on each other, and now Klug was borrowing their partner’s guitar for the show.

To end the set, Klug sang a few unreleased songs that they have been working on, a reflection of their life at the moment. Their life has changed since their debut album last year, becoming an independent artist and moving to Nashville, and the songs reflect that. I am excited to hear them fleshed out, especially with the more country influence they are taking. The last song played was “What To Make Of Me,” their newest song and one of my favorites. With everyone singing along, it was a great end to an intimate, cozy show that I heavily enjoyed.

You can listen to both Sylvie’s Okay and Olive Klug below, and go see Olive live in concert this fall and winter!