Photos and words by Taylor Shields
Perfume Genius (the stage name of singer-songwriter and artist Mike Hadreas) headlined Union Transfer in Philly on Wednesday, 3/23, with support from LA-based indie-folk artist Hand Habits.
Sauntering onto the stage, Perfume Genius opened with “Your Body Changes Everything” off of 2020’s Set My Heart on Fire Immediately. The crowd seemed completely transfixed by Hadreas, who’s known for his deeply emotional lyrics and a stage presence that demands attention. The room often fell noticeably silent as Hadreas stripped himself emotionally bare before them, while also appearing to fall into a trance-like state of his own, closing his eyes, swinging his hips, and dropping his body to the ground, as if the lyrics to the songs were being transmitted to him by divine intervention. Showgoers can expect a captivating theatrical performance of songs spanning Perfume Genius’ more than decade-long career. Some overheard crowd commentary between songs made it apparent that most in attendance were already familiar with his unique artistry and performance style, but still found themselves impressed and overwhelmed with the beauty of the live show.
Perfume Genius’ 30-date North American Tour will be finishing out at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on April 7th – see all upcoming tour dates here. They also just announced the forthcoming release of their sixth studio LP Ugly Season via Matador on June 17th. Check out the music video for “Slip Away” from Perfume Genius’ 2017 LP No Shape and keep scrolling to see more photos from the show.
