Sierra Spirit brings authentic twang (and Radiohead) to New York City

At the ornate Beacon Theatre in New York City, Sierra Spirit took the stage last week as the opening act for British musician David Gray. The historic venue, packed with nearly 3,000 eager concertgoers, buzzed with anticipation as Spirit made her way to the microphone. Performing primarily from her recently released debut EP, coin toss—a well-received collection of indie folk songs—Spirit brought a fresh blend of alt-rock and country influences to the East Coast.

The set opened with “ghost,” a popular track that began with the tap of a space bar on a laptop, accompanied by pre-recorded instrumental tracks. This minimalist setup, featuring Spirit and her bassist, evoked an intimate, almost DIY atmosphere, as though the duo were playing for a group of friends. A clear highlight of this pared-down setup was the laser focus on Spirit’s voice—breathy, emotive, and a touch of rasp that drew the audience in. After her first song, Spirit warmly greeted the older-skewing crowd, and her humble yet confident stage presence was evident throughout the entire performance.

Raised as a member of the Otoe-Missouria tribe and the Keetoowah Band of Cherokees, Spirit’s lyrics and music reflect her Oklahoma roots. In the following track, “better wild,” slide guitar and banjo introduce a rootsy texture to her sound as she sang about the internal struggle of leaving home in pursuit of freedom, self-discovery, and a bolder version of herself.

Though Spirit’s reflective and vulnerable lyrics carried deep emotional weight, her vocal strength never wavered. A standout moment came when she took on a daring cover of Radiohead’s “Creep,” proving her versatility and impressive vocal range. She then introduced “American Pie,” a song she had released earlier that day, blending twang with indie rock to highlight her sonic crossroads.

Spirit certainly left us wanting more as the grand Beacon Theatre felt hollow without a few more instrumentalists to accompany her performance. But this is only the beginning for Sierra Spirit. Her introspective songwriting, humble character and casually cool wardrobe may evoke comparisons to other indie performers, but Spirit’s show-stopping vocals & youthful and authentic twang set her apart from the rest.

All images courtesy of the artist