The openers for Kate Nash’s show, Joh Chase and Revenge Wife, put on incredible but very different performances. When Joh Chase walked out unassumingly, it wasn’t clear that they were there to perform, since they casually picked up their guitar. The free and easy demeanour made their powerful voice strike the audience in pleasant shock. Chase played some of their hits, including the reflective “Right Way,” and then shifted into a more rock-y expansive song, their breakout hit “Avalanche.”
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While Joh Chase seemed fairly new to performing and said so, Revenge Wife was a seasoned performer. The lead singer of Holy Child before her solo effort Revenge Wife, Elizabeth Nistico knew exactly what she was going for—her bubbly voice soared over loud drums and electric guitar. She slayed, twisting and turning onstage and speaking on sexual liberation. Her music was anthemic and fun, which came through especially during her song “Fantasy Girl.”
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A hush fell over the audience when it was finally time for Kate Nash to come out. First, there was darkly mysterious music, quiet and minimalist, accompanied by a voiceover: “Make a wish and count to three…”
Three musicians who comprised Nash’s backing band came out, dressed identically as grooms. They started doing daily tasks: pouring a cup of tea, writing notes on notepads, reading the paper, picking up the flowers left on stage beforehand and throwing them out to the crowd. As mundane as these tasks seemed, the audience was thrilled, and the excitement had been built for Kate Nash to suddenly run out onto the stage to mass cheering.
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Thalia Hall wasn’t completely filled for Kate Nash, but the sizable crowd at the concert was full of dedicated fans. They could sing along with every word—even for her lesser-known songs, or her unusual or rapid turns of phrase. It was beautiful to see people truly touched by seeing some of Nash’s relatable, honest lyrics performed live and close. As we walked out, someone came up as I was getting water and asked, “Is it just me, or do you also need to hydrate after crying that much?”
The connection Kate Nash has with her fans was demonstrated over and over during the concert. She sang true to her sound on recording, but what stood out the most was how much she connected with her fans. Throughout the performance, she was often looking closely at the crowd and looking directly into the eyes of audience members.
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Nash truly went out of her way to connect with the crowd during other moments as well. She instructed the crowd on how to sing the backing vocals on her song “My Little Alien,” and performed the song with the entire crowd chanting behind her. At one point, towards the end of her set, she laid down onstage with two of her bandmates, with their heads together as if in a field. She was tired from jumping around and singing her heart out, and as she talked it was like she was chatting with us—until some audience members started calling for her to perform her song “Sister.” She laughed, but when her guitarist started the tune, Nash began singing, remaining supine and jovial for the whole song.
Aside from these moments, Kate Nash went mostly rock-style for her performance. She spoke on topics that come out in her music, such as feminism, and in songs like “Kiss That Grrrl,” seemed to embody the concept of female rage.
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The highlight of the performance was when Nash stood on the little outcropping from the stage at the beginning of her popular song “Misery.” Then, to everyone’s delight and surprise, she climbed over the fencing to join the audience. For the remainder of the song, she ran back and forth in the crowd, giving plenty of fans the chance to see her perform up close and sing with their favorite artist.
Kate Nash knows her craft and most importantly, on top of quirky lyrics, a rocking presence, and a fun performance, she’s adept at making her fans feel seen.