Lizzie No balances heartbreak with sweetness and humor at NON-COMM

There’s a reason why Lizzie No was an XPN Artist to Watch last year. Not only do her songs walk the line between folk, country, and contemporary music, but her stage presence is captivating and warm, making it impossible not to smile and sway along to her songs.

“It’s so fun to be back here, it feels like I was just here!” exclaimed No, in reference to the Free at Noon set she played just this March.

Joined by Josh Cournoyer and Matt Sucich – the best of the best according to No – today’s set was an intimate display of the trio’s talents. No alternated between playing an acoustic guitar and a harp, and their vocals were entrancing throughout, casting a glow on the audience.

She started the set with a rousing version of “Annie Oakley” before going on to play a set exclusively off her newest album Halfsies, including a standout performance of “The Heartbreak Store.” She prefaced the song by saying it came to her in a dream about a place where you could get rid of all your baggage – murmurs in the crowd indicated that her feelings hit home.

Although her songs were reflective and heartfelt, No’s commentary and banter throughout the set was the icing on the cake, balancing out her heartbreaking music with sweetness and humor. It was never a dull moment; “Here comes the exciting part,” joked No as she tuned her harp in between songs, in addition to shouting out the listeners on the radio. “It’s a dream to play here,” shared the singer at another point.

The New York singer-songwriter released her third album, Halfsies, earlier this year. An intimate narrative of the human experience, the album captures day-to-day emotions and struggles along with commentary on larger issues close to No’s heart. For all the heartbreakers on the album, it’s a hopeful record, reflecting No’s good nature. Lizzie No will be playing at XPN’s XPoNential Music Festival this September, and it’s not one you want to miss. You can find more information on the festival here.