Ambar Ramirez
Faye Webster Concert Review
Words & photos by Ambar Ramirez
Faye Webster often bought last-minute tickets to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and enjoyed getting lost in the performances. So much so that she wrote a whole album in ode to this spontaneous time of her life— “Underdressed at the Symphony.” When Webster attended these performances, she would lose herself amongst the many concertgoers and her show at the Florida Theatre was no different.
But before we dive into the main act, we need to talk about the opener, Miya Folick. The California-based songwriter and musician has toured with artists like Aly & AJ, The Head and The Heart, Father John Misty, and now Faye Webster. It was, quite frankly, a perfect pairing. Folick’s gentle, indie sound set the ideal tone for the evening. Her set made the venue feel like an intimate garage performance, stripped down with no props or stage design. Accompanied only by her keyboardist and saxophonist, she sat on chairs facing the audience. Between songs, Folick sipped tea from her mug and chatted with the crowd like old friends. The audien
ce was captivated — laughing when she laughed, gasping when she belted out an unexpected note. Miya Folick is certainly an artist to watch, and one who may be selling out venues herself one day.
After Folick performed her final song, it was time for a brief intermission. The audience took advantage of this time to grab some drinks and use the restroom, knowing that as soon as Faye Webster hit the stage they wouldn’t want to miss a second of it. Slowly, the stage came alive. The black sheets scattered throughout the stage revealed washing machines, the amorphous shape that hung behind Miya Folick’s set became a giant white t-shirt, instruments were brought out and the theater became a laundromat. Once the lights dimmed and the blue hue filled the venue, Faye Webster emerged, opening with her hit “The Right Side of My Neck.”
Webster has a knack for seamlessly blending songs about heartbreak with those about everyday moments. Take “But Not Kiss” and “Lego Ring,” for example — one captures the quiet intricacies of relationships, while the other is simply about her wanting a Lego ring. Regardless of the topic, she performs each song with a raw, genuine touch. The real magic of live performances lies in those moments when an artist is truly authentic, and Webster delivered just that. She wasn’t afraid to stray away from performing her songs exactly as they sound in your headphones. At the same time, she showed she can be playful and experimental on stage, while still connecting with the audience on a deep emotional level.
Throughout the show, Webster ebbed and flowed between songs from her latest album and earlier works, even treating the audience to a brand-new song, “After the First Kiss,” which she had never performed live before. She has a talent for letting the music speak for itself, even stepping back to let each band member have their moment to shine. It all came together like a beautiful symphony, to say the least.
The night ended with “He Loves Me Yeah!” and oh, how we love you, Faye Webster.
Follow FOLIO!