Last night, Night Palace, the musical project of Athens/Atlanta/Brooklyn-based artist Avery Draut, released a live performance of “Into the Wake, Mystified.” The video takes a step back in time to September of 2023, about a year and a half after the release of Night Palace’s debut album, Diving Rings. This song was the first single from the album, a soft, dreamy and buoyant introduction of what was to come.
Night Palace was born during Draut’s time spent in Athens for college. She wrote her first songs after finding a Magic Genie electric organ in a thrift store, with reviews of those early Bandcamp demos even appearing in Flagpole. Draut passed her early years in Athens mingling with other acts carved from the clay of the local music scene, from Nana Grizol to Kishi Bashi to Kevin Barnes of of Montreal (whom Night Palace later opened for on tour) before moving to New York to stretch her creative muscles there and later returning to Athens to record Diving Rings, Magic Genie still in tow.
This performance of “Into the Wake, Mystified” was filmed at Terminal West in Atlanta as Night Palace opened for New York-based musician Frankie Cosmos and Australian band Good Morning. Draut is joined on stage by JoJo Glidewell on synths, Jack Blauvelt on guitar, Zack Milster on bass, Ben Hackett on clarinet and saxophone, and William Kissane on drums.
The video was mixed by Andy Lemaster and captured by Logan Gunzenhauser and Robert Lambert, the latter of whom also filmed all of Night Palace’s music videos. Lambert had been filming studio moments that year as the band recorded a yet-to-be-released album, and Draut, “[knowing] it would be a super special night,” recruited him to record the band’s set at Terminal West, as well. A good decision, as Draut says, “It turned out to be one of my favorite sets we’ve ever played, and I really cherish these videos.”
The night of this recording is as dusted in magic as the song itself; there was a scramble in the days leading up as one band member came down with COVID-19 and it was uncertain whether he’d be able to play, then the morning of the show he ended up testing negative. In another touch of good fate, the band covered Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me” that night, and a recording ended up getting back to the band, culminating in Night Palace opening Sixpence’s show at the Georgia Theatre late last year. It was a night that “rippled out in such special ways,” as Draut puts it.
The release of the “Into the Wake, Mystified” live recording doubles as a celebration of three years of Diving Rings and a promotion of Night Palace’s upcoming show at Flicker Theatre & Bar on May 3 supporting LAKE as the band tours its new album, Bucolic Gone. The show is presented by Attaboy Tapes in honor of the tape label’s second birthday, with label head Nathan Sheets’ band, Zach Ritter & the Eternal Soup, also opening.
Also on the horizon for Night Palace is another show in Atlanta with LAKE and Shrug at The Earl on May 4. The band also recently confirmed a headlining spot at Flicker Theatre & Bar during this year’s AthFest. To keep up with future updates about Night Palace, visit nightpalacemusic.com.
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