Fans adore Yola in Deep Ellum, Dallas, Texas
By Jess of Songs Stuck in Your Head
March 28, 2022
Photo by Jess of Songs Stuck in Your Head, March 25, 2022 Yola at The Studio at the Factory
“Yola! Yola! Yola!” sounded in ears on repeat at The Studio at the Factory in Dallas, Texas (Deep Ellum). A group of fans–in particular–at the front of the venue, could not help themselves but to repeat the singer’s name over, and over and over again. And who can blame them? Her music means so much to so many. Yola’s musical messages of self-love, empowerment, lost love and found love strike chords with people all over, especially during the Covid era. Her set kicked off with “Barely Alive” with lyrics like “I been living alone for all these years” just reignites a fan to look at their own life, their own story and just be retrospective.
Yola dawned an all black, sequined and fringed button-up and leather pants. Most of her guitar straps each had her name embossed on them, which gave her stage presence so much more punch and an “I-am-here-to-shine” vibe. Her hair was purple ombre and her signature hue of purple from her sophomore album cover Stand For Myself, which I happen to own not one, but two copies of: One for listening to, and one to be displayed lovingly on the wall as a tribute to the self-proclaimed “Genre Fluid” musician. The best part of the night, in my opinion, was when she gave it an acoustic vibe with just her and two other guitar players, gathered around in the best jam session. Yola had mentioned in jest that with this part of the show, she wanted to take her music back to the times when the songs are in the early stages–before record labels “get their hands on them” and change everything–when she is alone singing in her living room and snacking and just writing songs. (Sounds like my kind of heaven.) It had that bare bones feel and really allowed fans to focus on her dynamic lyrics and overall songwriting skills, much like the song ideas that come early in the morning, Yola joked. Of course, tears instantly seeped out of the side of my eyes during the trio’s “demo-style” version of “Whatever You Want” because this iteration of the song had less of the uptempo from the studio version on the album. One could just hear the pouring out of emotion in this song and with the harmonizing trio; it was quite a moment, definitely not a good time to be in the restroom, because you would have missed the atmosphere on the shared mic and the blended soul of the three. So much to love about that part of the show.
Yola wished a very happy birthday to the great Elton John, who happened to be celebrating his 75th on the night of the show. So “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” just felt that more dreamy and whimsical that night fully equipt with the yellow twinkle lights on the back wall, reminiscent of lightning bugs and stars.
She ended the night with a rendition of “Don’t Stop the Music” by Yarbrough & Peoples. Yola, please, from the bottom of my heart, please never stop making music. I have found strength in your music and I look forward to you coming back to Texas to rock it out, in whatever genre you see fit, queen.
