Gracie Abrams connects with ‘childless cat or dog people’ and celebrates Chappell Roan at LA concert
LOS ANGELES — Gracie Abrams performs as if she’s sharing an intimate secret.
This secret resonates with her beloved fans – a couple thousand of them – on her expansive 54-city (and still growing) Secret of Us tour, in support of her newest album of the same name. This album followed a monumental year for Abrams, which included her third headlining tour, opening for Taylor Swift’s record-shattering Eras Tour (a role she will reprise during Swift’s concluding North American performances later this year), and earning her first Grammy nomination for her debut album.
As she passionately sings about fresh love, heartbreak, and the often perplexing emotions that come with both, Abrams at times seems transported back to the creative space where she penned these songs while experiencing intense emotions in a fleeting time, as she describes. At other moments, she is fully present with us at the Greek Theatre, as we enthusiastically echo her lyrics into the star-studded night.
The enthusiastic chorus of voices from the crowd indicates we all relate to the longing and pain that inspire her music.
While sharing the moment with us, she often indulges in playful self-mockery, making exaggerated expressions and gestures, aware that she has evolved through the experiences she sings about, which resonate with the more than 5,000 fans in attendance.
By the conclusion of her performance, her sentiment is one of feeling “Free Now.”
Gracie Abrams and her fans share a unique bond
On Wednesday night – her fifth performance of the Secret of Us tour – it was the second of three hometown shows in Los Angeles for 25-year-old Abrams. Acknowledging her devoted audience, she noted this was originally meant to be the first LA date until high demand prompted promoters to arrange an additional show on Monday.
“This is truly a dream come true. I grew up coming to the Greek. This venue has always been on my bucket list; we all love it so much,” she expressed. “This marks our second night here, and we’re performing again tomorrow. Thank you all for selling this out.”
Having achieved the pinnacle of her career thus far, Abrams could have easily relied on her connection with “Us” collaborator Swift. Yet, throughout her set, she maintained a palpable connection with her audience.
As she sang, she would lean down in her semi-sheer white maxi dress, making memorable interactions with fans in the front row, even taking selfies with those who handed her their phones – all without skipping a beat or missing a note.
Abrams blew kisses, energetically waved to different sections of the audience, and cheerfully greeted some lucky fans in a crowd of teens sporting low-slung jeans, flowing maxi skirts, and ribbons in their hair. If appreciation was wealth, her fans would be incredibly rich from her many expressions of gratitude.
“You’re all truly extraordinary and incredibly special to me. I strive to incorporate your generosity into my songs and stories,” she shared, referencing her 2020 debut EP with “21.” “We’re all in this together, and your support is a massive relief and gift, so thank you.”
As her performance came to a close, Abrams reflected on “our connection,” largely born from her viral DIY “I Miss You, I’m Sorry” YouTube lyric video in 2020, which was met with heartfelt responses from fans.
“This truly is a two-way street. The only reason we get to perform tonight is because you care, and I genuinely hope you feel how much I care about all of you,” Abrams remarked. “I really sense that we’re one big happy family – a joyful family that enjoys sad music.”
Gracie Abrams encourages ‘childless cat or dog people’ to exercise their voting rights
Over an hour into her performance, after introducing “some of the most cherished individuals in the history of the world,” meaning her band – drummer Gabe Smith, bassist Cooper Cowgill, guitarist Elle Puckett, and keyboardist Casey Kalmenson – Abrams touched on the importance of democratic participation.
She spoke about events like the MTV Video Music Awards that had just occurred, naming Chappell Roan as the best new artist.
“We are fortunate to experience the work of a once-in-a-generation talent like Chappell Roan,” said Abrams, who is also a nominee in the same category.
And then, there’s the upcoming presidential election in November.
“It’s quite fascinating because we truly get to connect with each other, and what we perceive reflects our understanding, even when political influences attempt to divert our attention,” Abrams shared while talking about touring with her band. “Are there any pet owners without kids here? Did any of you catch the debate last night? Are we all planning to vote?”
As the audience cheered, she added, “That’s what I thought. I’ll see you at the polls.”
Abrams expressed excitement about having the nonprofits HeadCount and Planned Parenthood join them on tour this fall, stating, “The work they do is incredibly important.” “Our democracy is on shaky ground,” she asserted. “It’s at a critical juncture, and we need to take action. I’m really thankful to see so many of you who care about our government.”
Gracie Abrams’ setlist for the Secret of Us tour
Role Model, known as Tucker Harrington Pillsbury, who is also signed to the same record label, kicked off the performance with popular tracks such as “Blind” and “Deeply Still in Love.”
- “Felt Good About You”
- “Risk”
- “Blowing Smoke”
- “21”
- “I Love You, I’m Sorry”
- “Where Do We Go Now?”
- “Gave You I Gave You I”
- “Mess It Up”
- “Full Machine”
- Surprise song: “I Should Hate You”
- “Good Luck Charlie”
- “I Knew It, I Know You”
- “I Know It Won’t Work”
- “Friend”
- “Normal Thing”
- “Feels Like”
- “Let It Happen”
- “Tough Love”
- “I Miss You, I’m Sorry”
- “Free Now”
Encore
- “Us”
- “Close to You”
