Ocie Elliott brings gentle harmonies to norcal
Photography by : Jim Brown
Story by: Justine Brown
I first heard Ocie Elliott on Spotify about a year ago and I instantly dug their mellow vibe, deep lyrics and Jon Middleton’s raspy voice, so I was excited to hear they planned to stop at Ace of Spades in Sacramento recently.
When we arrived, we first had to check out the revamped Ace of Spades venue. They’ve added the “Good Luck Lounge” in the space next door and turned the upstairs into a swanky new spot for after parties. Check it out next time you take in an act at AOS. It’s got a bit of an SF/NYC vibe that will make you forget you’re in Sacramento. It wasn’t crowded on the night we were there, but I’m sure it will soon be hopping on Friday and Saturday nights.
But back to Ocie Elliott… Like many people, I originally thought Ocie Elliott was the singer’s name, but it’s actually the name the duo chose for themselves. The reasons were explained but I’ve already forgotten and that’s what Google is for. The important thing is that these two wholesome-looking Canadians – Middleton and the lovely Sierra Lundy – are pretty adorable together (and apparently actually a couple). But beyond looks the two create some pretty deep and intimate songs and a lovely acoustic sound. It was truly a date night vibe on a Tuesday night in Sacramento (unfortunately, my date was off taking photos). There was an awful lot of cuddling going on in the crowd in the dark. Hopefully that’s all that was going on (not a show you want to take the kids to or they may come home with some questions).
Anyhow, these two not only write some great songs and harmonize well together, they are also both gifted musicians. Jon played the guitar, Sierra played the Mellotron (yep, we had to look it up) and they both played the harmonica, sometimes together. They were joined only by bass player Evan (who also picked up a trombone at one point). That’s it – no drums, no fiddle, no banjo. That’s ok – they didn’t need them. The three of them filled the room with originals like Take Me Home, Down by the Water (probably their best known song and also the first song they wrote together), and Fame – my personal favorite – a cautionary tale about the struggle between chasing the spotlight and wealth versus following your own passion and truth.
In addition to the sultry tunes and the harmonies, it was great to see that Jon and Sierra don’t take themselves too seriously. When Jon messed up the beginning of a song the two of them just laughed it off, joked with the audience about it, and started again. This definitely isn’t a jaded, road-weary duo just looking for their next paycheck. They seem like they are there because they truly love what they do (and each other). Very refreshing. They also seem like the kind of couple that would be fun to hang out with in a coffee shop or go on a hike with (cut to: hiking near the snow-capped Canadian Rockies in the sunshine while a moose wanders by instead of sitting at my computer).
Though Ocie Elliott is fairly new to my personal playlist, the duo have actually been performing together since 2017 and have put out nine albums and EPs. That’s a lot of material to create in just seven years! Jon and Sierra wrapped up their Sacramento set with Forest Floor, a song dedicated to Sierra’s dad, and Tracks, a fun tune about just being young and exploring the world. I’m jealous, I must admit. (Cut to: wondering forested Canadian trails whilst laughing with Jon and Sierra, drinking a Molson Lager and enjoying some Tim Horton’s donut holes. Hmmm – maybe it’s time for a vacation?)
The night was winding down, but we weren’t done yet. The two returned for an encore of Kansas City, the Bob Dylan-penned song recently covered by Mumford and Sons. Evan put down his bass for this one and joined Jon and Sierra around the microphone for some more great harmonies. That is a pretty cool song, and the three of them definitely did it justice.
Overall, it was a lovely night of heartfelt music and — oddly — my ears weren’t ringing at the end of the night for once. And instead of needing a few hours to unwind after a full-throttle show I found myself nodding off on the way home (don’t worry, I wasn’t driving).
Ultimately, hearing Ocie Elliott perform was good for the head and the heart and uplifting for the spirit – and don’t we all need a little of that right now?
Thanks for coming to town Jon and Sierra and Evan – I’ll see you on the trails!
Music Fan Meters:
Smoke Meter: Smokeless unless you want to count all the smokey looks the crowd was giving each other?
Fight Meter: Not even a struggle at the bar, very chill crowd.
Sing Along Meter: Nope. Nobody dared. Swaying heads and smiles was the participation limit. It was just fine with us. I didn't come here to hear anyone but Ocie Elliott anyway.