Staff Editor on December 5th, 2021

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Skullcrusher. Is that the band name of a heavy metal or punk band? Not at all. Instead, it’s the band name that folk singer Helen Ballentine has chosen. And she provided a night of enchantment Friday at the Lodge Room in support of her recently released EP, “Storm in Summer” (out now via Secretly Canadian).

As the band made their entrance to the stage, the youthful crowd cheered, and an appreciative Ballentine glowed at the positive reception. The set started off with the first track off the album, “Windshield.” It’s a song with a soft lead guitar and flowing vocals, but the lyrics indicate why the band name Skullcrusher is so appropriate: “I thrust my foot through the windshield before you.” The music gives the impression that it was written while she was driving through a light spring rain with the sun peaking through the clouds in the distance. The lyrics, however, provide a picture of someone causing some major car damage.

“It’s very awesome to have people here. It is very surreal,” Ballentine said.

The song “Places/Plans” is the first song the band ever recorded. To show it the proper reverence, the guitarists all took time to properly tune for a song about friendship and a deep desire for something more. The song “Trace” brought cheers from the crowd.

The set closed out with the song “Lullaby.” The music brought imagery of ocean waves hitting a quiet South Pacific beach. Tropical fish swimming in the clear blue waters. Birds flying below the drifting white clouds. A young woman sitting on the sand with pencil and paper writing lyrics opposite of what is around her. Though the crowd cheered for an encore, “Lullaby” would end the night.

Opening up the night was Noah Weinman under the name Runnner, performing songs from his 2021 album, “Always Repeating” (out now via Run For Cover Records). His set started out with cheers that rose into a second round of cheers. It was a well-deserved level of love as Weinman did double— let’s call it triple– duty on this night. Not only did he open, but he was also one of the backing instrumentalists for Skullcrusher. The triple part is due to the fact that he also produces for Skullcrusher. He ended the set with, “Thanks for coming to watch the opener.”

Skullcrusher setlist: Windshield, Song for Nick Drake, You Are My House, Places / Plans, Farm, Storm in Summer, It’s Like a Secret, Trace, Day of Snow, Lullaby

Photos and recap by Notes From Vivace