Katie Gavin played a sold-out show at The Atlantis on Friday. The intimate solo show was a stark contrast from her larger-venue shows with her band MUNA, and featured a scaled down, acoustic set. Her debut solo album What a Relief was released in October, and she has since embarked on her first solo tour to promote it. Nana Adjoa, an Amsterdam-based singer/songwriter is opening for Katie Gavin on this tour, which concludes later this month in Gavin’s home state of Illinois.
Primarily known for her upbeat, queer-pop music in MUNA, Katie Gavin’s solo work features darker, heavier themes. With songs touching themes of addiction, loss, family issues and relationship woes, the 13-song set was remarkably emotional. At one point, Gavin described adopting two senior dogs in 2020 and watching them grow old and pass away before performing tribute song “Sweet Abby”, joking that while she adopted two dogs, “only one of them got a song”. Showcasing her many talents, Gavin pulled out a violin and played in addition to singing throughout the evening. The already small venue felt even more intimate with the addition of Gavin’s set pieces. The stage was adorned with candles and plants, giving it a more personal feel.
The crowd was incredibly quiet during her performance, holding off on cheers until the final chord of each song. The silence from the crowd highlighted the quality acoustics in The Atlantis, whose smaller size provides an auditory experience not easily replicated in larger venues. The venue was absolutely packed with fans of all ages eagerly watching Katie Gavin introduce the district to her solo musical projects. The silence from the crowd didn’t last all night however, with one “heckler” being revealed as Katie Gavin’s sister Emily, who later joined the stage to perform “The Baton” with her sister.
The What a Relief Tour began last month in Seattle, and has crisscrossed the country with stops in tiny venues along the way. Katie Gavin’s Atlantis show marked the fourth to last stop on the tour, with a final date in Chicago taking place later this week. Gavin’s first solo tour has been wildly successful, with nearly every stop selling out.
Final Grade: A
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