An Emily Wolfe performance is something to behold.
Wolfe’s sound, a blend of blues and rock, is something that countless musicians have pursued before, but this artist’s journey with that long-running tradition has taken her to a place that is uniquely her own.
Wolfe’s attitude—a thirst for independence and individuality—is made clear as day when this guitarist and singer takes the stage with her band.
It’s a relatively simple ensemble; Wolfe, accompanied by her guitar, is joined by a bassist and a drummer. However, despite the punk-rock minimalism, the bare-bones outfit charges the room with a riff-driven performance and an expertly crafted sound that fills the entire auditory spectrum.
This is accomplished through the raw skill of Wolfe, her accompanying musicians, and bolstered by the use of a masterfully crafted effects chain for both bass and guitar.
The grace and purity of Wolfe’s performances were evident as she took the stage at Austin’s Empire Control Room & Garage on Sept. 6. That night, she performed in support of the Queer Liberation Network, an organization that provides support to LGBTQIA2+ individuals facing housing instability and medical emergencies.
Wolfe dedicated little time on stage to discussing the organization, or much of anything, as she filled the set with as many of her message-driven compositions as possible.
The artist did take a moment to raffle off one of her signature semi-hollow body guitars. After naming a winner by pulling it out of a jar, Wolfe handed the instrument to the crowd in a nonchalant handoff.
Weeks earlier, one of Wolfe’s own personal versions of the guitar had been severely damaged while on a flight.
The gathering marked Wolfe’s return to the venue following a pandemic-era performance subdued by inhibiting but necessary social-distancing efforts.
“Everyone was scared,” Wolfe told the audience.
This time, the artist returned to the stage in full force.
While effortlessly performing intricate leads, she made her way across the stage with footwork that would make Chuck Berry lift an eyebrow.
That night, Wolfe played through a vast swath of her repertoire, including newer additions like “Walk in My Shoes” and “Road to Ruin,” along with old favorite “White Collar Whiskey.”
Wolfe ended the night with a no-nonsense encore of “Holy Roller,” a song that serves as a distillation of the musician’s creative vision defined by a driving drum beat, an earworm of a riff, and a message of empowerment.
Closing the night not with spectacle but with conviction, it was a victorious conclusion to a night already filled with success for the artist who has not only mastered her craft, but continues to push it forward, night after night.
