Sierra Ferrell Knows How to Put on a Show
glamour.comBy Sierra Ferrell wears a stiff white wig that's part beehive, part Marie Antoinette costume-piece, and a Southern Belle ball gown, her hoop skirt saddled in yards of glossy ruched fabric.
Tiers of ruffles flutter at her elbows, and a corseted bodice erupts into a bouquet of rich red roses that decorate the bust.The 35-year-old stands before a sold-out crowd at Webster Hall in Manhattan, her guitar—tattooed with double-headed snakes and peonies—slung over her shoulder.
She’s branded the instrument with her name, which is spelled out in mother of pearl letters along the guitar's neck. “Sierra Ferrell” shimmers in the pink, purple, and orange stage lights.Sierra Ferrell on stage at Webster Hall on May 16.The resulting image of the singer-songwriter, who has been praised as much for her authentic showmanship as her “” voice, is something like Gone With the Wind on an acid trip.If you were expecting the stripped-back image of a ‘60s folk singer á la Joni Mitchell, or the more contemporary, jeans-and-a cowboy hat mold of a country star, Ferrell’s over-the-top display is a shock to the system.
But then, Ferrell has never fit easily into a box.Her twang is undeniable, as is her liberal use of fiddles and other Americana-tinged instruments, like the upright bass or steel guitar.
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