by Petyr Campos
Visiting the Brick & Mortar Music Hall was Ella Red on her first headlining tour. The Texas native started her musical journey on the cello, crafting melodies in her bedroom as a child. She released her first single, “Damsel in Distress,” in 2022, then broke out in 2023 with “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.” Her music has a Alt-pop / dark pop vibe, blending retro energy with atmospheric and dramatic songwriting.
Ella gave a great performance. She enchanted the audience with her magnetic stage presence, personality, and unique choreography. She was moving, pivoting, dancing. Her performance was vivid, physical, and intentional. Ella really connected with the audience as they sang along with her through many of her songs. Her shows have developed a reputation for turning concerts into something close to communal catharsis, and that was true for this show.
The second artist to perform was Zoe Ko, an American singer-songwriter, originally from New York City. Promotional bios describe her overall persona as “the cheeky rockstar this generation’s been craving,” combining flirtatious charm with fierce energy and a commitment to highlighting the female experience. Her sound blends alt-pop, pop-rock, and dance pop with a slightly darker, heavier sound. Her music is “driven by electric guitar and powerful, bold vocals. She gave a very energetic performance that the audience fed off throughout her set. She entered the stage with edgy vocals and upbeat energy, jumping around and singing with full commitment. Zoe is a high-energy, crowd-connecting live performer.
The first performance of the nice was San Francisco based band Gloomy June. The band was formed during the pandemic era and consists of Alexi Belchere (vocals), Devin Nelson (guitar/synth/backing vocals), Jack Sundquist (bass/synth), and Ash Hyatt (drums). The band describes their music as “Moody California Pop”, indie pop with an energetic, slightly melancholy edge, and emo.
