Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

It’s the 30^th anniversary of Paula Cole’s album This Fire, and she brought her North American tour playing it in its entirety to The Bellwether on October 3, 2026. The mature crowd sat in folding chairs in front of the stage for the show, but regularly erupted into standing cheers throughout the course of the night.

Opener Rett Madison was fun and entertaining with her self-professed ADHD asides, and her songs from her latest album One For Jackie were great. She has a strong performing pedigree from touring with artists like Sheryl Crow and Grace Potter, and has sung backup for Lorde and worked with Vulfpeck.

When Cole took the stage she was joined for the 17 song set with two bandmates, guitarist Adam Levy and percussionist/bassist Katie Marie. They’re a switchup from regular drummer extraordinaire Jay Bellerose, who Paula Cole announced had planned to sit in on drums in Los Angeles but was “ill,” which sent some shock ripples around until she clarified he had a cold. Touring guitarist Chris Bruce was also absent, with veteran Tracy Chapman guitarist Levy doing a great job live.

The crowd got to hear a few tracks in addition to those on This Fire— Cole began the show with “Chiaroscuro,” “Suwannee Jo,” and “Amen,” which were all excellent. Then the This Fire portion of the night commenced, with hits like “Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?” and Dawson’s Creek theme song megahit “I Don’t Want To Wait,” closing out the set pre-encore just like it closes out the album, which she played in order. She performed two songs for the encore– “Flying Home,” and John Lennon’s “Imagine,” which as an outspoken activist looked like it felt personal to her.

“Throwing Stones” was a highlight with its force and energy, the same with the end of “Tiger,” which is unrivaled live. Then Cole switched it up with “Me,” and its more quiet emotion, and then “Feelin’ Love” which is great to, let’s say, hear with another person in certain situations, but in the venue felt a little like watching an R rated movie sitting next to your parents on the couch, lol. And then there’s “Hush Hush Hush” which I made most of the way through before turning into a sack of weeps in the back of the room. It’s an aids lament, a grief ode, and it’s the first time I’ve heard it live and it wrecked me a little. “I Don’t Want To Wait,” is likely what many people came to hear, and it got a big reaction, but Cole’s work and talent is much, much more than that song.

The This Fire 30^th Anniversary Tour continues through North America into November, so check out www.paulacole.com for tickets and information, and she’s offering a VIP pre-show package where she plays a few extra songs (in LA they were “Oh John” and “Bethlehem” by request), a special and worthwhile experience.