“Haven’t felt right in a week,” describes exactly how I’ve felt since seeing Snail Mail a week ago. This line is from their popular track “Thinning,” an upbeat song about yearning to be alone. The indie pop band is the solo project of Lindsey Jordan, an 18-year-old from Baltimore, Maryland who isn’t afraid to sing about the struggles of being a teenager and her attempt to grapple with feelings of insecurity in young adulthood. Snail Mail’s 6 song EP Habit was released in 2016, and has since been receiving attention from various music media outlets including Pitchfork, The Fader, Audiotree, and NPR. What Habit lacks in production, Jordan makes up for in concert, and she does not disappoint.
Snail Mail had two openers, Doozie and Melkbelly. Doozie is a local pop punk powerhouse whose sounds are reminiscent of Diet Cig or Palehound. They opened with “Total Mess,” a fun tune perfect for head banging. Melkbelly was next, a Chicago noise rock band that left my ears ringing for days… in the best way. Once the head banging was over, it was time to, for lack of a better word, get in our feels.
When Lindsey Jordan walked onto the stage at the Bishop last Monday, the pressure was palpable. Having taken a detour to Bloomington from opening for Beach Fossils on their tour of “Somersault,” Jordan was taking a risk. However, deciding to play her own one-off show in this bustling college city proved fruitful. Jordan got on stage with her band (though it should be noted that Snail Mail is a solo project) and what came next was absolutely electric. Between the beginning and end of the set, Snail Mail had the audience captivated and with each song, Jordan’s passion did not waver. In “Dirt,” she unapologetically sings about the uncertainty and uncomfortableness of adolescence and finding oneself, and it’s what makes her such a strong artist. Snail Mail played the entirety of Habit, “Static Buzz” and “Stick” being highlights of the show. Though most of Jordan’s songs are slow and personal, they do not lack excitement. Snail Mail’s music is full of introspection and heart, drawing in their audience with soft lyrics and sweet guitar melodies. Jordan’s voice provokes feelings of nostalgia within the audience, connecting with them through her poignant songwriting and hard-hitting guitar riffs. I would definitely recommend seeing Snail Mail if you have the chance.
Snail Mail just signed to Matador Records, and Jordan says a full length album is in the works. You can check out their 6 song EP Habit on Spotify.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5Tr8yao7NrGlIhEGzntE5p
