Live Review: Widowspeak with Thomas Dollbaum at the EARL in Atlanta, 6/23/26

Imagine a world where Neil Young hooks up with Mazzy Star, and you’ll just begin to understand the sound and scope of Brooklyn’s dream-pop outfit Widowspeak. The band is currently on tour supporting their seventh release, Roses, an atmospheric tour-de-force and one of the best albums of 2026.

Singer Molly Hamilton and guitarist Robert Earl Thomas are forces to be reckoned with. Hamilton’s voice is as dreamy as it gets, and her speaking voice is equally mystical (a possible fantasy for ASMR fans).

By the time the band took the stage, the EARL was packed, with fans pushing closer to the stage. The first notes of “The Hook” soon echoed throughout the room to cheers.

The wonderful “If You Change,” opening with Thomas’s twangy guitar, merging with Hamilton’s beauty of a voice. These two are the only permanent members of Widowspeak since its inception in 2010. Shortly after, the debut was released to promising reviews and an instant fanbase. Partners in work and in life, the seamlessly solid set was no surprise. 

The exciting “Soft Cover” falls into legitimate hit territory. Again, I can’t stress enough the paradoxical sounds coming from Widowspeak, with Hamilton’s emotional, airy voice blending with Thomas’s Americana-style guitar. They’re two great tastes that taste great together. And it works.

The band returned to the stage, in response to cheering fans, performing “Coke Bottle Green” and “Money.” The group’s fanbase was strong tonight, and they let it be heard.

Opener Thomas Dollbaum (pronounced DOLE-bomb) trotted out his wonderful new Americana-tinged, indie-rock album Birds of Paradise (Dear Life Records; which incidentally sold out at the merch table). Looking like a regular guy who just stepped up on stage from the crowd, he made a statement tonight. 

Originally from Tampa, he moved to New Orleans in his early 20s and kicked off his career. I mean, the guy holds an MFA in poetry and was doing carpentry when he broke out in 2022 with his debut Wellswood, then a second EP with last fall’s Drive All Night. What’s not to love about his story?

Birds of Paradise was made in good company, with MJ Lenderman on drums (and some backing vocals); it was destined for greatness. That’s not to discount Dollbaum’s voice, which is a gift. The new album’s release was delayed for some three years due to arguing labels. The singer has said the timing was perfect, as this sound has recently taken off.

In recent interviews, Dollbaum expressed his admiration for Bob Dylan, John Prine, and Neil Young. These inspirations come out in his music, but the final product is all Dollbaum, and it’s that voice that sets him apart. He performed most of the ten songs from Paradise, including such gems as “Coyote,” “Rabbits,” “Dozen Roses,” and “Big Boi,” the story of Thomas meeting a couple at a late-night Waffle House. He ended up driving them to pick up drugs at a pill mill. “Big Boi showed me his tattoos all down his arms / Said he got his nickname for being so goddamn large,” Dollbaum sings. 

With the storytelling prowess of Prine and Springsteen, and the most unique voice in recent memory, this young fella’s going places. 

For music and tour dates, visit their Bandcamp pages at Widowspeak and Thomas Dollbaum.

#supportmusicians