Gracie Abrams sticks close to her fans at Greek Theatre opener

As a seasoned film enthusiast with a soft spot for coming-of-age stories, I found myself utterly captivated by Gracie Abrams‘ performance at the Greek Theatre. Her intimate connection with her audience and raw emotional vulnerability reminded me of nothing less than a well-crafted independent film unfolding right before my eyes.

On the stage at the Greek Theatre on Monday, Gracie Abrams moved around as if surrounded by flickering fires, with the hands of the audience members reaching out above her flowing black maxi skirt. Yet, amidst the scorching night, she bent low to brush against the imaginary flames.

Rising, she clutched her heart, as though storing the warmth there.

The first concert in Abrams’ “Secret of Us” tour series held in her hometown on Monday was a sold-out event filled with heartfelt interactions between Abrams and her devoted fans. This is a consistent aspect of Abrams’ performances, from her initial live shows to her opening acts last summer on Taylor Swift’s Eras tour – she exchanges kisses, holds hands, and whispers “I love you” softly, all with the warmth of a close friend.

Abrams emphasized on Monday that the subject matter he presents in his shows is deeply meaningful to him. He truly intends to incorporate the kindness shown to him in his compositions and narratives.

Unlike some artists who view overly personal emails and uninvited revelations from fans as inappropriate or irritating, Abrams sees them as a reminder that we’re all dealing with similar struggles beneath the surface. This perspective helps her stay authentic and continues to fuel her creative process.

Consequently, despite not initially intending to release new music immediately following the drop of her debut album “Good Riddance” in 2023, she found herself with another album’s worth of material unexpectedly.

On June 21st, “The Secret of Us” made its debut, landing at the second spot on the Billboard 200, following Taylor Swift’s “The Tortured Poets Department.” It garnered 89,000 equivalent album units, marking Abrams’ first entry into the top 10 and highest-charting album.

During June’s pre-sale for the Secret of Us tour, the initial solo Los Angeles date on September 11 quickly sold out in just an hour. As a result, Abrams added a second performance on September 12 and eventually a third, which turned out to be the opening night in L.A. Some notable attendees included Olivia Rodrigo, Daisy Edgar-Jones from “Twisters,” and Phoebe Dynevor of “Bridgerton.

As a movie enthusiast, I found myself immersed in a captivating performance that clocked in at approximately two hours. Kicking off with the album’s opening track, “Felt Good About You,” a folksy tune that evoked the laid-back vibe of an indie film soundtrack, its upbeat tambourine setting the tone. Despite Abrams being separated from us by a semi-transparent screen, her powerful stage presence was undeniable as her silhouette danced with the rhythm, leaving an indelible impact on the audience.

Stepping into the limelight, Abrams switched to an acoustic guitar adorned with stars on its strap for “Risk,” the main track from “The Secret of Us.” Her face beamed as fans sang along, and even during the critical “Blowing Smoke,” she could hardly suppress her smiles.

Towards the end of her performance, she happily engaged with audience members by passing them her microphone for their renditions of songs like “21,” “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” and “Mess It Up.” Throughout this interactive segment, she showcased her impressive vocal skills, which had significantly improved since her previous headlining tour. Instead of singing the lower, softer notes from touching songs such as “Where Do We Go Now?” and “Gave You I, Gave You I,” she opted for longer, higher ones that left even the most reserved concertgoers in awe. (At one point, a security guard was seen recording.)

For Monday’s “surprise song,” a relic from her time studying under Swift, Abrams brought onstage her best friend, roommate and “The Secret of Us” co-writer Audrey Hobert. After some mutual gushing, the two did a duet of the unreleased “That’s So True,” exchanging dramatized expressions as they sang, “Smiling through it all, yeah that’s my life.” Combining juvenile lyrics with adult themes, the song manifests Abrams’ simultaneous preoccupation with teenage girlhood and position beyond it — something else she shares with Swift.

Following the simplified “Good Luck Charlie,” a series of songs emerged, and during their live performances, they showcased Abrams’ increasing creativity as an artist while surpassing their studio versions in quality. For instance, the tender pop song “Friend,” from Abrams’ first EP “minor,” gained an enhanced texture with added distorted synth. Moreover, the track “Normal Thing” from Abrams’ recent album was given a touching makeover through a powerful drum progression.

Instead, the live performances of “Feels Like” and “Free Now,” which concluded the set, were met with disappointment among fans, particularly the faster version of “Feels Like.” Criticism for this performance could be found online. However, any dissatisfaction was quickly alleviated by a powerful encore.

Following another captivating appearance where she sang “Us” accompanied by pre-recorded vocals, Abrams finally concluded Los Angeles’ first night with this fan-requested song that Swift had not released for seven long years.

The catchy synth-pop track titled ‘Close to You,’ which Abrams refers to as an ‘earworm’ due to its infectious nature, was her most successful single upon release. It amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify in just one day and peaked at No. 49 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, marking her first solo entry on this chart.

Alright, all set? With a mischievous grin, Abrams winked at the crowd as the music softened. As soon as the pre-chorus kicked in, it seemed like half the stadium was floating up there.

With each note of the melody, images of young girls adorned with ribbons and frilly skirts appeared on-screen, giving Abrams’ call for intimacy a sense that it was meant more for them rather than just a longing desire.

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2024-09-12 00:03