Rachael Jenkins Brings The Allergy Season Tour to New York City
New york, NY - April 20th, 2024
Live music in New York often evokes images of edge and glamor: dazzling lights, the palpable energy of drummers, and magazine worthy outfits. Last Saturday, numerous shows fitting this description were in full swing. However, one performance, hosted by Rachael Jenkins (any pronouns), offered a different perspective, opting to strip live music down to its intimate essence. Jenkins took the stage with their acoustic guitar and proudly rocked their “New York Fucking City” t-shirt that they bought earlier that day. Immediately, they connected with the crowd, turning the room into a group of friends and priming us for the emotional depth their music offers.
Rachael Jenkins. Photo via @rachiichacii on Instagram by Jade Cromar.
They opened with an unreleased track, “New Job”, which they prefaced is about being alone. The crowd settled into their sound and listened intently to the lyrics. They smoothly moved into their next song, "Allergy Season," which gives its name to the tour this show is part of. In this gentle ballad, Jenkins demonstrates their mastery over the guitar, evoking movement and dynamic emotion from just six strings. Although their studio recordings are typically rich with instrumentals, opting for a completely acoustic performance for this set allowed them to deliver a magical rendition of the essence of their music, especially to an audience less acquainted with their work.
Next, they played a few released songs like “Secrets” and “I Don’t Know” that highlighted their impressive vocal range. The audience was charmed as the glass paneling background lit up in reds and purples as they belted “I’ll burst into flames and I’ll like it, all the quiet.” As the lights dimmed, their closing lyrics hung in the silence for a moment before the audience filled the room with applause.
In addition to being a gifted singer-songwriter, Jenkins is also an incredibly funny and captivating performer. The weight of their songs were balanced by their playful and comedic demeanor, which kept the audience uplifted and engaged. While they re-tuned their guitar between songs, they joked about their Mormon upbringing, getting lost in New York and being an hour late to soundcheck, and their self-proclaimed penchant for simplistic song titles. The audience found themselves easily laughing and bantering with Jenkins.
Alongside the humor, Jenkins also gave the audience an insight into the meaning behind some of their songs. They talked about their partner as an inspiration and lovingly played an untitled new song to them, and us. At the end of the song, Jenkins and their partner shared a sweet moment, exchanging hand hearts across the room. They discussed their challenges in stepping outside their comfort zone, learning to trust their abilities, and embracing their body with love. Through the captivating melodies of their songs, “Boot Licker” and “Body”, they told the audience how their relationship with their appearance has evolved into what it is today.
Asking for a quick time check from the audience, Jenkins celebrated their perfectly timed set. At 10pm exactly, they played their last and most popular song, “untitled.” They recounted how this track became their musical breakthrough after gaining traction on TikTok in 2020. Released a year later, it has since amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify. Jenkins told the audience that this song is “about being gay and leaving the Mormon church and smoking weed” and promptly strummed their first chord. While most of the audience seemed to be new to their music, a few members sang along to this song.
While slow-paced, emotional, acoustic ballads might not be the first thing that comes to mind when people think of live music, Jenkins showcased that a memorable performance is truly about forming a bond with the audience, and allowing them to connect with you and your music. While their musical talent is undeniable, it was their capacity to foster a connection solely through their guitar, voice, and personality that made this show special.
Jenkin ended the show with gratidude and excitement for upcoming tour dates. Find upcoming dates and new music updates on their instagram.