The Crane Wives have been sweeping the indie folk scene since 2010, and they’re back stronger than ever this year. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based band are on the road across the U.S. in support of their album Beyond Beyond Beyond, released in September 2024.

The Crane Wives were preceded by a poignant opening set from Cristina Vane. With her country-tinged blues rock sound, the Nashville singer-songwriter needed nothing more than her voice and her guitar to convert the crowd into fans. After Vane’s performance, the audience was energized and ready to cheer for The Crane Wives, who announced their presence with a cryptic appearance from a lantern-holding masked figure.

The band’s soulful, honest lyricism, expressed through elegant three-part vocal harmonies and passionate instrumentation, tugged at the heartstrings of the packed Brooklyn venue. They played a well-balanced setlist of songs fresh off the latest album, such as the haunting “Scars” and punchy “Bitter Medicine”, while also saving room for beloved fan favorites like “The Moon Will Sing” and “Tongues & Teeth,” the latter of which closed out the night.

Every song, old and new, was performed with the vigor and raw emotion that the band has been known and loved for through the last decade-and-a-half. They evened out the melancholy of “Never Love An Anchor” with the galloping tempo of “Sleeping Giants” and timely anger of “The Hand That Feeds,” its biting criticism of capitalism and greed almost more relevant today than it was in 2015. Emilee Petersmark (vocals/guitar) and Kate Pillsbury (vocals/guitar) have powerful, resounding voices that send chills down your spine; backed by the tight drums and bass of Dan Rickabus and Ben Zito, the band had the crowd entranced and clapping along all night.

The Crane Wives still have many stops to go on their journey this summer— find more tour dates at https://thecranewives.com.