
January 31st, 2025 – It was a rainy night in Philadelphia, but that didn’t stop a sold-out crowd from packing into PhilaMOCA to share an intimate evening with one of today’s most gifted songwriters. The dreary weather was no match for Christian Lee Hutson’s artistry—or his stellar choice of an opener, Allegra Krieger.
Written by Ed Jollimore @eventime_insta
Captures by Steve Cerf
Currently touring in support of his latest release, Paradise Pop. 10. Christian delivered a performance that was as delicate as it was powerful. His latest album follows the trajectory of his critically acclaimed previous LPs, Beginners and Quitters, both produced or co-produced by his close friend and collaborator Phoebe Bridgers and released via Anti-.
From the moment he took the stage—seated with a Martin acoustic, next to a small table and lamp—the room was his. The audience, packed tightly, was completely enraptured, hanging onto every note. Accompanying him was his touring partner Odessa (Odessa Rose Jorgensen), whose violin and harmonies added depth, color, and movement to the songs, weaving through Christian’s delicate melodies like an extension of his own voice.
The setlist focused on Paradise Pop. 10, with the crowd absorbing every moment of “After Hours”, “Carousel Horses”, “Water Ballet”, “Autopilot”, and “Candyland”. Fans responded enthusiastically to earlier favorites as well, with “Lose This Number” and “Atheist” from Beginners drawing hushed reverence, while “Northsiders” and “Strawberry Lemonade” from Quitters provided emotional high points.
One particularly striking moment came during “Atheist”, late in the set. Looking across the room, I could see faces illuminated by the glow of the stage lights, silently mouthing the lyrics as if the song had been a lifelong friend. Their expressions told stories of their own proof of Christian’s ability to make deeply personal songs feel universal.
Between songs, Christian’s dry, deadpan humor kept the mood light, reminiscent of Steven Wright. At one point, an intrusive beeping sound outside near 12th and Spring Garden led him to deadpan, “Time to go to bed,” drawing laughter from the crowd. He shared anecdotes, some about Philadelphia, and introduced his fiancée, Maya Hawke, and their touring dog, before lavishing praise on Odessa (“Someday you’ll look back and say, ‘I saw Odessa when…’”) and opener Allegra Krieger (“Really, just buy everything she has,” he implored. “I’m in the van with her, listening to her on headphones, trying to pretend I’m not listening to her.”).

The night ended on a beautiful note with a brand-new duet featuring Maya Hawke, their harmonies blending effortlessly as she occasionally glanced at a notebook for lyrics. When it came time for requests, the crowd enthusiastically called for State Bird from Quitters, which Christian obliged. As the final notes faded, a heartfelt wave of applause filled the small, packed room—genuine appreciation for an artist whose songs don’t just pass through your life but take up permanent residence.
Allegra Krieger’s set made an already special evening feel even more extraordinary. Everything about her felt authentic—her presence, her guitar playing, her songwriting. Her crystalline guitar work paired beautifully with the emotional range of her voice, and her songs, grounded in personal storytelling and NYC quirkiness, evoked kindred spirits like The Roches.
Though she playfully admitted she wasn’t sure if the audience was familiar with her work, that surely won’t be the case for long. Her natural stage presence, prolific songwriting, and sheer talent won over the crowd with ease. A serious artist deserving of a much wider audience, Allegra Krieger is on the verge of something big.
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