It’s a rare opportunity to see a pair of artists in a single night who are so clearly heading on an upward trajectory. Hype and profile will help that lift, but only talent will keep an artist aloft. While Suki Waterhouse has enjoyed the spotlight from her accessories brand, modelling and acting career, it could be that her work as a musician, singer and songwriter will eclipse her other gigs. Having a very busy 2022 releasing both her first full length album AND a followup EP, Suki spent the summer and fall opening shows for ADDICTED fave, Father John Misty on his first North American tour since 2019. Now as a first time headliner, she shared the spotlight on her Coolest Place in the World tour with Blondshell, the band name of LA singer songwriter Sabrina Teitelbaum. Judging by the block-long line when doors opened, it was clear that many of the Suki Girls were also there to see the opener.
Well worth the wait, Blondshell opened their set with their new smashing single, Veronica Mars. Moving through other songs-to-come on their self-titled debut album, the band played Cartoon Earthquake, Sepsis, Joiner, Salad, Olympus and a cover of the Cranberries song, Disappointment. Singalong moments showed Teitelbaum is already growing a following and anticipation for her album release in April.
Taking the stage with her three-piece band, Suki Waterhouse entered the stage to screams as she sauntered to the mic to proclaim “LA was dead, till I laid on your chest“, the opening line from Bullshit on the Internet. The volume of screams just rose. Following with two more songs from her latest album, I Can’t Let Go, Waterhouse paused in between drowned out and with an unbreakable smile, clearly surprised by the outpouring. She took the moment during to say as much. To paraphrase, she spoke about playing her own small shows last year and now, found herself unbelievably on her first headlining tour. She thanked the audience with heartfelt authenticity. Every successive song seemed like a fan favourite. Mentioning her refusal of Sub Pop’s request to take down her old songs, the set included early plays, Good Looking and Valentine. Mixed all in between, Waterhouse played a near-complete performance of her latest EP Milk Teeth.
It will be interesting to see how Suki Waterhouse spends 2023 after the Coolest Place in the World tour finishes on Feb. 10 at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles.