Friday, April 12, just before the latest round of rainfall would begin to kiss the streets of San Francisco, synth pop princess Alice Phoebe Lou delivered a heartfelt and cathartic set to an entranced audience at the Fillmore. Pushing 9 oโclock, a lone figure drifted onto the stageโthe long-haired, light-footed singer-songwriter herself. Eclipsing her given name Alice Matthew, the artistโs girlish nom de plume was befitting of her playful and ethereal presence. Wielding only an acoustic guitar, she commenced her performance with a stripped, yet brilliantly resonant, rendition of โHalo.โ Though her set began solo, the artist produced an incredibly saturated sound on her own, with vocals reverberating throughout the room to envelop the crowd and touch every inch of skin. Interchanging her enthralling alto with a silkier falsetto, she wandered through the notes of each run, turning them over one by one with care. As a folkier twang entwined with the melody, I couldnโt help but be reminded of Joni Mitchellโs time-tested sound. Following this show, there is no doubt in my mind that the younger artistโs raw talent is sure to secure her a deserved place in history in the footsteps of such a beloved legend. I was first introduced to Alice Phoebe Louโs music by my close friend Nina, who accompanied me to Friday nightโs show. The two of us met in our freshman year Chinese 1A class, and on ไธญ็ง่, or Mid-Autumn Festival, we set out on a moonlit campus to celebrate, Sheng Kee mooncakes in hand. While we nibbled on our fare, weighing the relative merits of red bean filling versus lotus paste and relishing the saltiness of the twin yolks within, we also traded song recommendations and frolicked on the grass of the Womenโs Faculty Lounge garden. She told me that whenever she would make a new friend, she would record a video of them dancing to โWitchesโ together. Before the night was out, our freshly filmed video was archived in her jam-packed camera roll, where I am certain it remains to this day. The harvest moon marked the beginning of my journey with Alice, and the concert felt especially auspicious following the solar eclipse that occurred last week. Magic was certainly in the airโone audience member repeatedly shouted that the artist was โan angel sent from heaven above,โ and an enduring vibrant energy carried both concertgoers and band members through the evening. A few songs into the set, the singer remarked that โyou guys really know how to show the loveโฆmaking my cheeks all rosy and stuff.โ Matthew was candid about the bandโs experience on the road throughout the set, stating that they were on their fourth show in as many days and that she was looking forward to an upcoming spa day and the rest and relaxation it would bring. But amid the stress of the tour, she remained grateful and optimistic about the show. โIโm a tired girl, but you guys brought out all the remaining energy in my body,โ she said. She certainly hit her target audience headlining a sold out show in the Bay Area for the third time, honoring the release of her latest album Shelter (2023). When she stepped away from the mic during the chorus of โSomething Holy,โ the crowd sang back to her as one, with waves of affection billowing towards the stage to crack a smile across her face. โI havenโt felt that volume of lyrics coming back at me in a long time,โ Matthew observed appreciatively. Matthewโs music can be as sensual as it is sweet, an experience that is empowered and reclamatory. The closing act of her set, โDirty Mouth,โ is an ode to body autonomy and feminine resistance against objectification: โI’ve got laser beams coming out my eyes/do you still really wanna mess with me?โ she sang, impassioned and invigorated at the end of a show that had traversed five albums from her impressive discography. The singer was unapologetic about her limits and privacy, and that in itself lent her an element of poise and authenticityโthough her stage banter was kind-hearted, she rightfully ignored the handful of hecklers vying for her attention. When individuals shouted out the songs they wanted to hear, she responded that she had not asked for their opinion. Honest with her audience, she warned that she could and would not deliver everything that we asked: โone way or another youโre all gonna leave disappointed, because thereโs gonna be a song you really want to hear and Iโm not going to play it,โ she said. Indeed, I was sad that she didnโt perform โLovesick,โ which is among my favorites, but my respect for her could not be stronger. Alice Phoebe Lou is nothing short of a lover and fighterโand neither has ever looked better. Article by Sophia Shen Photos by Yansu Tan Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Δ