Grab your harmonica, dig out your dusty fedora—ZZ Ward makes her hometown return at Revolution Hall in Portland on November 17. Words by Bren Swogger and photos by Emma Davis.

I have a long history with ZZ Ward. Since her first album, Til the Casket Drops, was released in 2012, I’ve been following her career over the past 12 years. From albums lost to time (This Means War, we’ll never forget you), to pop-centered detours (The Storm), and the long droughts in between, ZZ has remained a constant presence on my playlists—and in my years of concert-going.

This particular show marks my eighth time seeing her live. I’ve seen her play multiple venues in Portland, from the Roseland to the Wonder, as well as festivals like the Waterfront Blues Festival. I’ve even caught her in other states, like a one-off set at Sundance Film Festival in 2020.

A lot has changed in the 10 years I’ve been seeing ZZ live. Now a mother of two, she’s touring with her 9-month-old and 4-year-old in tow. For her grand Oregon return, she’s playing her third show at her new hometown fortress: Revolution Hall.

Over the past three performances at this transformed high school auditorium, ZZ has been consistent with the vibe she brings. While her music has ranged from hip-hop-infused to shiny pop, there’s one unwavering throughline—the blood and bone of her sound: the blues.

At Revolution Hall, that vibe comes fully to life, transforming the room into a blues club of the highest order.

Lately, ZZ has been leaning hard into classic blues covers—not just for the older crowd of blues lovers who flock to her shows, but as a clear tribute to the greats who shaped her music. She opened the set with two covers: Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s “My Baby Left Me” and Elmore James’ “Dust My Broom,” before launching into The Storm standout, “Let It Burn.”

Throughout her set, ZZ played five blues covers, including Son House’s “Grinning in Your Face,” which has become a staple at her shows. Oddly, she skipped songs from her most recent album, Dirty Shine, released last year. It’s an interesting choice, given that Dirty Shine is some of her best work yet—and one of my favorite records of 2023.

Still, the crowd didn’t seem to mind, finding their groove in the blues.

After all, the blues was the main course for the evening.

“This is the state I grew up playing the blues,” ZZ told the crowd, reminiscing about how her dad used to sneak her into blues bars before she was old enough to get in.

While Dirty Shine was absent, there was no shortage of blues in her set. It was present in every note of her rural Oregon twang, each harmonica solo, and every soulful guitar riff.

Amid the older tracks and even older blues covers, ZZ gave her hometown crowd a taste of something new, previewing a couple of unreleased cuts from her upcoming record. Slated for release next year, it’s a collaboration between her own Dirty Shine Records and the legendary Sun Records.

Though blues has always been her home, ZZ revealed she’s been feeling a pull toward another genre close to her heart: soul. That influence shone through on her new songs, “Lioness” and “Naked in the Jungle.” These tracks explore her newfound life as a mother, infused with the same ZZ shine that’s always been at the core of her music.

If these new songs are any indication, there’s no doubt ZZ will continue to deliver—and remain just as consistent as she’s been for me over the past 12 years.

Founder & Editor | + posts

Bren Swogger (they/them) is the founder and editor of Indie/Alt Magazine. Bren started Indie/Alt as a music blog during their sophomore year of high school, and after a long hiatus, relaunched it as an online entertainment magazine in 2021 for their capstone project at Pacific University. After 10 years in the music journalism industry, Bren has a long-standing passion for live music, but also loves to explore their passion for other artistic outlets. You can find Bren writing voraciously, adding to their never-ending stack of TBRs, and marathoning classic horror films.

Photographer | + posts

Emma Davis is a photographer for Indie/Alt Magazine and long-time best friend of editor/creator Bren Swogger. Emma and Bren have been collaborating within the music journalism industry for years, first with Vortex Music Magazine then with Indie/Alt. A graduate from University of Oregon, you can find her writing stories for the Happy Valley News, crying to Taylor Swift, or watching UNHhhh with her girlfriend.