Sharon Van Etten Plays New Song at Hometown Gigs

Brooklyn-based Sharon Van Etten played two shows at Warsaw in her home borough this week on the latest leg of her tour to support her most recent album, "Are We There." The fans in attendance at Wednesday's show (including various members of the New Jersey native's family) heard a lot of songs that album, and were also treated to a new song, "I Don't Want to Let You Down," which Van Etten debuted on "The Ellen Show" last month (see video below).



Van Etten has been a Podcast Party favorite for several years now, since her breakthrough album, 2012's "Tramp." Last year's "Are We There" continues her progress as a singer, songwriter, and bandleader, and despite her success she maintains her quirky, humble demeanor. (She had to re-start perhaps her best-known song, "Serpents," after realizing her guitar was in the wrong tuning.)

Her band, which includes back-up singer and multi-instrumentalist Heather Woods Broderick, is always in good form, and the heartache and emotion in Van Etten's lyrics and singing on her records are just as evident in her live performances.

She's off to the Asia-Pacific region and Europe for a bunch of shows, but will be back in the States for some festival gigs, including Boston Calling, Sasquatch, and Governors Ball in New York. (See all Sharon Van Etten tour dates.)

Sharon Van Etten with Brad Cook and Heather Woods Broderick at Warsaw Wednesday.

Warsaw, a club situated inside the Polish National Home in Greenpoint, is the only concert venue we've been to where you can get kielbasa and pierogies made by Polish ladies. Now that's a bonus you're not going to get anywhere else. (I had the kielbasa hero, a piece of the sausage on a short hoagie roll, with sauerkraut. Mmmm.)

You can grab some pierogies or kielbasa at Warsaw.

Opener Leon Bridges is an impressive newcomer, performing blues and R&B tunes in the tradition of classic artists like Sam Cooke and Otis Redding. He's been playing a number of dates on Van Etten's current tour and is working on his first album.

Leon Bridges and band at Warsaw.