Along with the spring weather, the sold out Union Transfer crowd got a much needed mid-week boost in serotonin from a show featuring headliner girl in red along with opener Holly Humberstone. With vax and mask mandates recently lifted in Philly, the jam-packed venue (and photo pit) felt the most “normal” of any pandemic-era show I’ve attended. Fingers crossed that this continues, but I’ll be masked regardless ‘coz I don’t know you randos.
British artist Holly Humberstone is having herself quite the year. Earlier this year, she was awarded the BRITs Rising Star Award and is now touring with girl in red through April – she’ll gain an even wider audience when she joins Olivia Rodrigo for her May tour dates. Among the current class of young singer-songwriters, she carves out her own style by complementing her introspective and confessional lyrics with electronic textures. Performing on stage solo, Humberstone masterfully navigates from groovebox to guitar and keys without missing a beat while delivering her pristine and emotional vocals on tracks like “London Is Lonely” (from her forthcoming debut LP due out later this year).
While girl in red (the stage name of Marie Ulven) attests to be part of the growing contingent of artists inspired by Taylor Swift, the influence is more subtle than her contemporaries. On tracks like “I’ll Call You Mine”, glimmers of Swift are noticeable; however, she draws on even more extensive influences of the dream pop and post-punk variety (she has cited The Smiths as an early influence).
Starting her set with “You Stupid Bitch”, girl in red took the stage with her energetic presence to a shouting and exuberant crowd and flashing stage lights. In between songs, she engaged the audience in playful conversation as if between close friends. Asked if she would sign someone’s “tiddies”, Ulven politely declined saying she was spoken for. Being her first tour back in a while, Ulven shared her heart on sleeve amazement and sincere appreciation for the crowd. To the delight of the audience, she got up close and personal and crowd surfed during her performance of “Serotonin”. I needed to hit the road early, but I’m sure she closed out the night in epic fashion.
girl in red will be capping off her North American tour with a performance at Coachella, before heading off for the UK/EU. Check out all of her upcoming tour dates here. Below, check out the official music video for “Serotonin” from girl in red’s 2021 debut LP if i could make it go quiet and make sure to keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.
