by Ally Arens
Alternative-pop singer UPSAHL is gearing up to spend a few weeks on the road as support for Madison Beer’s Spinnin’ Tour across the United States. On her way to meet up with the tour, she booked a string of three headlining shows in Tucson, AZ, Oklahoma City, OK, and Nashville, TN. Musaholic Magazine had the immense pleasure of catching the second of these at Oklahoma City’s Beer City Music Hall on May 17, her first ever performance in the city, as she sang her heart out to an eager crowd of Friday night concert-goers.
Starting off the night at 8 p.m. sharp was local singer-songwriter Lauryn Hardiman, known professionally as LRYN, who warmed up the crowd with her gorgeous vocals and catchy beats. The majority of her brief 30-minute set contained tracks from her 2022 EP HERE4EVER, though she also treated the audience to a currently unreleased track, which she said is currently titled “Ride the Wave.” Though she was not added to the bill until a few days prior to the show, LRYN was a welcome addition to the show, and I look forward to keeping up with what she has in store.
At around 9:15, it was time for the star of the show to hit the stage. All eyes were on UPSAHL, dressed in a giant oversized blue puffer jacket, as she kicked off her set with the iconic “Monica Lewinsky.” This was followed up by her 2020 single, “People I Don’t Like,” and an amazing mash-up of her 2023 song, “Good Girl Era,” with a cover of The Ting Tings' “That’s Not My Name,” setting the tone of the night of dancing that was in store.
Over the course of her hour-plus-long set, the crowd danced, sang, and jumped along very enthusiastically to an extensive selection of songs from her discography. At one point, she noticed a fan holding a sign saying, “Respectfully Shake Some Ass,” which she asked the crowd to do on her next song, “No Hands,” and they happily obliged. She also borrowed fan’s phones on multiple occasions during the set, taking videos for them while performing, much to their delight.
Those in attendance were also treated to a taste of what UPSAHL has in store for the future. Partway through her set, she performed an unreleased track titled “Summer So Hot,” which she revealed is set to be the first single from her next album. The track is an absolute banger, and I cannot wait to hear the studio version whenever it drops.
An UPSAHL concert is perfect for dancing, singing along, and letting loose, and her blend of dance-y, alternative-tinged pop is sure to endear her to more fans as she supports Madison Beer on the road this summer. Her stint on the tour begins on May 20 in Atlanta, GA and continues through June 13 in Los Angeles, CA before she heads over to Europe in August for a short run; all upcoming UPSAHL tour dates and tickets can be found on her website.
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