Cassandra Jenkins played Stone Circle Theatre

Singer-songwriter Cassandra Jenkins played her first show of the year at Ridgewood's Stone Circle Theatre with some assistance from the Belly Chorus.

In 2025, Cassandra Jenkins released My Light, My Massage Parlor (Parlor Version), a new album consisting of reimagined versions of her own songs that somehow pushed them even further into the outer realms of the galaxy. For her first show of 2026, Jenkins stuck to her two most recent studio albums and delivered her particular brand of cosmic-folk under the stained glass mural of a church as she radiated with true wonder as she delivered some divine ambient pop music. Softly easing us in with the hushed vocals and gentle acoustic guitar strums of "Devotion," she instantly made for a tranquil setting that sprang to life when he band found their parts of the track, drumming tucked into the rhythms while technicolor electric guitar began to dazzle. For "Aurora, IL" the band forged deeper into the cosmos, the vibrant shift towards more alternative, buzzing guitar work an alluring draw from the get go that matched Jenkin's lilting vocals. Inviting the Belly Chorus to join her for "Delphinium Blue" was mesmerizing, the choral work making it a transcendent moment that allowed Jenkins to sparkle as she was surrounded by stunning voices that elevated her track to heavenly heights and all in a church no less. Live saxophone enunciated the spiritual jazz qualities of her more serene moments and gave pristine underlining to her lyrical fascination with the cosmic connection between earth and the stars. The back half of her set saw her dip into tracks from An Overview on Phenomenal Nature, perhaps the softer, ambient folk led album that she still brings to life with such delicacy and intimacy. Like floating on a cloud, the delivery of these tracks was well intended and given with such care, the vocals never overpowering and at times perfectly fragile while the melody made sure to match the emotions. After a Nick Hakim cover, Jenkins plugged back in and hit us with the surging guitar lick reminiscent of the Pixies or Bends-era Radiohead with its rush of energy and grungy tones which is instantly spun into a prism of radient hope. Returning to the stage for two more songs, the band played the version of "Hailey" that kick started the obsession with making it a theme on all of her releases before blowing us all away with the song most were undoubtedly in attendance to hear. "When I wrote this song, I didn't think anyone was ever going to hear it. So everyone should go write the song you think no one will hear because you never know what can happen and maybe a million people will hear your song!" It was an exhilarating thing to witness, the joy and acknowledgement that a single song could change your trajectory, resonate with so many, and become a healing tool in audio format. After encouraging us to not only write songs, but to use our voices as well, she gave a triumphant "fuck ICE" call before leading the sold-out crowd through the powerful balm that is "Hard Drive" and the crowd surrendered to the night. The ultimate bliss that emanates from the song never grows old and never loses its power, time and again it grounds us together and restores us to a pure state of mind. 

Set list:

01 "Devotion"
02 "Aurora, IL"
03 "Omakase" (With Hailey Gates)
04 "Delphinium Blue" (With Belly Chorus)
05 "Only One"
06 "Petco"
07 "Michelangelo"
08 "New Bikini"
09 "Crosshairs"
10 "Happen" [Nick Hakim cover]
11 "Clams Casino"
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12 "Hailey"
13 "Hard Drive"