Arriving early to the Echo Longue showed me just how eager fans of Sarah Kinsley and Girlpuppy were to see the two indie pop starlets. The line doubled back several times with well-dressed concert-goers as we waited to enter the venue in the cool spring breeze. The show, one of the earlier dates in Sarah Kinsley’s Fleeting Tour promoting her new EP of the same name, started promptly one hour after we were let into the venue with a warm welcome from Georgia native Girlpuppy and her band.
A soft, shimmery indie rock sound filled the room as Girlpuppy started to perform. Relatable, intimate lyrics lingered in our minds as we swayed to the tune of the act’s two guitarists and drummer, the bass coming from a backing track. Singer Rebecca Harvey somewhat jokingly asked the audience if they were excited to hear a night of “sad women singing sad music.”
Indeed, the audience adored Girlpuppy’s playful yet vulnerable vibe. The performance felt special as it was the second-to-last appearance for Girlpuppy on tour with Sarah Kinsley. Though the audience yelled “YES” when Harvey asked if they were ready to see Sarah, they still groaned in sadness when Girlpuppy announced they had only one song left to play. Whether they knew the lyrics or not, the crowd could all consider themselves Girlpuppy fans for the night.
As for myself, I was in fact familiar with a decent bit of headliner Sarah Kinsley’s repertoire, and I was excited to hear her sweet and soaring vocal performances live. However, I found that not only is Kinsley a great live singer but a wonderfully engaging performer as well. The New York City-based singer sashayed around the stage with an energy to rival the hypest of hip-hop acts.
Songs like “Lovegod” and “Glint” with their catchy high notes made it difficult to focus on taking photos early on in the set—I found myself wanting to take in every moment of the technically-refined yet sincere and raw performance. My friend, whom I introduced to Sarah Kinsley’s music, was an especially big fan of the songs “Knights” and “Realms” from the artist’s 2022 album Escaper and claims she had an “awakening” during the concert.
Sarah Kinsley kept us all awake during her dynamic performance, which saw her alternately singing and dancing, strumming the guitar, and performing a string of solo ballads on the keyboard. Sarah’s passion for her music was as evident as her appreciation for her audience, who she credits for breathing new life into her songs when she performs them live. As a first-time Sarah Kinsley audience member, I can say I am equally grateful for the opportunity to participate in the meaning-making of such splendid music.
