After six years away from the scene, long time indie-rock and “sad girl pop” icon Kate Nash finally stepped back onto her tour bus and returned to Los Angeles with a highly anticipated stop at the Teragram Ballroom on Saturday. Touring in support of her new album entitled 9 Sad Symphonies (released via her own new Kill Rock Stars label), the British musician/actress – who is now a dual U.S. citizen and voted in the general election this week – reconnected with long time fans and exhilarated new fans by playing a rousing and energized set of both new and old favorites.
Backed by a three-piece all-girl band in uniform, Kate kicked off the show with “Millions of Heartbeats” which also happens to be the leadoff track on the new album. She encouraged the audience to sing along to a few tunes (including “My Little Alien” and “Birds”) and was happily twirling and dancing across the stage when not playing the guitar or bass while at front and center.
A highlight of the evening was Kate’s introductory back story to “My Little Alien” from her 2018 album Yesterday Was Forever. The song is about her adorable dog named Stella, gifted to her at a coffee shop in Echo Park years ago from a drug addict to whom she donated 20 bucks to help him kick the habit. Kate could barely control Stella at first, but with help from some kind strangers at the park, her manager Margaret, and Margaret’s Irish neighbor, she quickly grew to love the little dog.
Words and photos by Justin Higuchi
Setlist:
Millions of Heartbeats
Vampyre
Life In Pink
Mouthwash
Misery
Cherry Picking’ / Death Proof / All Talk
Part Heart
I Hate Seagulls
Nicest Thing
Ray
Wasteman
My Little Alien
Kiss That Grrrl / Shit Song / Later On / Mariella
Foundations
Space Odyssey 2001
Birds
