I walked into the Warfield right as Cardiknox started their set and I was absolutely blown away by their sound. They were the perfect opener for this particular tour. Cardiknox, originally from Seattle but now based in NYC, write addicting synth pop with catchy hooks and incredibly polished production. Frontwoman Lonnie Angle maintained an incredibly strong presence as the crowd size increased in anticipation of the headliner. The band was able to flawlessly mix guitar riffs and 80’s synths with a hint of modern electronic. Their new album “Portrait” is out next week! Make sure to check it out and keep your eye out for their next Bay Area tour date!
Many know Canadian pop star Carly Rae Jepsen from her breakout hit “Call Me Maybe” in 2012, but she has only gotten better since then. Her new album “Emotion” has been praised by a music site I frequent as a “pop masterpiece”, and they are a tough community to win over! It was only appropriate that she played San Francisco within days of the release of Fuller House, a Netflix funded revival of the classic sitcom Full House. In the new series, Carly Rae Jepsen puts her own unique spin on the classic theme song!
Despite being sick, Carly Rae Jepsen put on an incredible show to a very crowded Warfield. The show was part of the Noisepop music festival, so badge holders had to make the decision between emo legends American Football, indie songwriter The Mountain Goats, rapper Vince Staples, and many more. I was still deciding which show to cover on my BART ride into the city, but I am glad that I ended up choosing this one!
Carly Rae Jepsen had a stacked setlist full of older tracks and new songs off of Emotion. Her charming personality is contagious, and the lights, balloons, and friendly energy in the crowd truly made it a night to remember! She provided some context for each song which was nice, and really connected with the crowd. If she had not mentioned it during her set, you might not have been able to tell that she had a cold. Her vocals were absolutely on-point and the rest of her backing added depth to her overall sound. She has grown as a singer, songwriter, performer, and actress (her performance in Grease: Live! last month was stunning!). Check out her new album Emotion! (also available on vinyl!)
Cardiknox
Carly Rae Jepsen
https://www.carlyraemusic.com/
Noisepop
Review by Patrick Griffin, https://www.instagram.com/pizzawithpatrick/
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