Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Almost a decade has passed since Paula Cole released an entirely original pop/rock album following a string of jazz, folk and social justice-themed projects, but “Lo” finds her seamlessly picking up where she left off as a both a thought-provoking troubadour and boundary-blurring producer.

In fact, the “Best New Artist” Grammy Award-winner also made history as the first ever solo female to be nominated for the latter during an unstoppable stretch in the 1990s, starting out backing Peter Gabriel and rising to being a headliner on the Lilith Fair.

Her latest local visit was at the Old Town School Of Folk Music, where every nuance of her glorious voice, gorgeous piano playing and the organic instrumentation of a guitarist and bassist resonated throughout the stunningly intimate room.

The fact it was the very first night of this new tour made it all the more special, particularly when she debuted the likes of “The Replacements & Dinosaur Jr.,” “Follow The Moon,” “Invisible Armor,” “Green Eyes Crying” and “Wildflower,” boldly living up to her biographical description of being a “truth-teller, provocateur, feminist, and brilliant autobiographical writer who has pushed for personal honesty and social change.”

Even one of her most humongous hits, “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? 2.0,” fit the bill as a tongue-in-cheek take on gender stereotypes, which may have went over the heads of many listeners swept into the multi-platinum mania of “This Fire,” but was nonetheless communicated with clarity and accepted as intended on this nearly two-hour night.

Cole continued intermingling the distant and recent past thanks to the soulful “I Believe In Love,” the stunningly stripped down “Happy Home,” her hometown story “Gloucester Harbor Shore” and the Wurlitzer glow of “Strong Beautiful Woman,” fresh off its TikTok resurgence, always managing to come across as timeless.

There was perhaps no greater example than the iconic ballad “I Don’t Want To Wait,” which of course captured an entire generation of “Dawson’s Creek” watchers, but is finding an entirely fresh audience on multiple video and audio streaming platforms.

The headliner left everyone with an unplugged and enthralling interpretation of the fitting “Flying Home,” complimenting the long-awaited return to her already accomplished singer/songwriter roots and fully realizing them on the road.

For additional information on Paula Cole, visit PaulaCole.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Old Town School Of Folk Music include Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Apr. 13); Cheryl Wheeler (Apr. 13); Oumou Sangaré (Apr. 14); Graham Parker (Apr. 18); Joe Pug (Apr. 18-19); The Weight Band (Apr. 20); Willie Nile (Apr. 20); Hamza Akram Qawwal & Brothers (Apr. 21); Raul Midón (Apr. 21); QWANQWA (Apr. 24); Kara Jackson (Apr. 25); Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams (Apr. 26); David Wilcox (Apr. 27) and Alex Cuba (Apr. 28). For additional details, visit OldTownSchool.org/Concerts.

Related Articles

Americana great Patty Griffin rolls “Tape” through acclaimed catalogue for Old Town Lloyd Cole: “2016: My Retrospective Year” Tour at Old Town School Of Folk Music Underrated singer/songwriter Lloyd Cole looks back with a box set show at Old Town School A daring David Gray climbs the entire “White Ladder,” mounds more on Northerly Island Country and Americana troubadour Rosanne Cash reinvents “The Wheel” for Old Town School TobyMac’s funk, pop and positivity “Hits Deep” on Fiserv Forum, plus Corey Asbury, Mac Powell, more Train spin Ravinia some “AM Gold” and anthems, plus a plea from Parmalee to “Take My Name” Stevie Nicks slays United Center with Fleetwood Mac and solo classics, lauds late Christine McVie