Blondshell Fires Up a Sold-Out Crowd at the Fine Line

Blondshell played to a sold-out audience Wednesday night at the Fine Line, and it was the kind of show that reminded me why I still drag my 40-something-year-old body out on a weekday to see live music.

The bare-bones, intimate space was the perfect setup for a performer who makes music that feels personal.

Meg Elsier did an impressive job warming up the venue, which was already nearly full. Joined by a guitarist and drummer, the Nashville resident didn’t take herself too seriously as she joked about tuning her guitar and having her bandmate give her car an oil change. The trio played a mix of indie rock songs, like “spittake” and “sportscar,” that were both catchy and quirky.

When it was time for the headliner, Sabrina Teitelbaum walked on stage looking relaxed and comfortable in the spotlight. Dressed in a grey, Camel cigarettes–emblazoned t-shirt, cut-off denim shorts, white socks, black running shoes, and her blonde curly hair tied up in a knot, she and the band started off with “23’s A Baby,” followed almost immediately after the applause died down by “Toy.”

Teitelbaum has one of those voices that can go from whisper to roar without sounding forced, and the packed room was paying attention from the first note.

There weren’t a lot of extended breaks between tracks but when there were, the fans were nearly silent. It was like they were eagerly anticipating Teitelbaum to speak to them, or excited for her to break into another one of their favorite songs.

The setlist mixed tracks off Blondshell’s debut record with several from her latest album, If You Asked For A Picture, and she even sang a cover of “Diet Pepsi” by Addison Rae.

“Olympus” had a dreamy quality that made the whole room sway like everyone was actually feeling the music. “Kiss City” was an obvious crowd-pleaser. It was bold and sexy, and nearly everyone was singing along. It was a highlight of the night.

Backing vocalist. Photo by Wendy Nielsen

Another memorable track was “Salad,” which deals with some heavy subject matter. You could tell it was cathartic to some fans and painful for others, as I saw one wiping tears from her eyes while a friend consoled her. It was a reminder of how important artists like Blondshell are: Instead of writing rote, empty tunes to try and sell records, they make meaningful music with real feelings attached.

Anna Crane plays drums and percussion. Photo by Wendy Nielsen

I had heard Blondshell before and liked Teitelbaum’s lyrics and sound. But seeing her live really opened my eyes to her magnetism. It’s not only her beautiful voice—which I feel is even better in person than on her records—it was just her. She’s not trying to be anyone else. There’s no posturing, no fake crowd interactions. Instead, she lopes around like she’s at band practice with her buddies on a Sunday afternoon. She’s bending at the waist while singing, fixing her hair for the third time, sitting on the drum-kit riser while having a casual conversation with the audience.

Teitelbaum is just herself, take it or leave it.

Between songs, she also displayed some solid stage banter, like when she paused to show the crowd her appreciation.

“I’m so happy you’re here. Thank you for coming…St. Paul? Is it St. Paul?” she asked, to which the audience roared, “No!”

Sabrina sings to the crowd. Photo by Wendy Nielsen

Teitelbaum laughed at herself and continued, “No, Minneapolis. That’s what I thought. I should never doubt myself.”

Before “Event Of A Fire,” she explained she sometimes feels like she doesn’t have a choice, even when she does. “This song is sort of like, you can do literally whatever you want. You’re an adult, and you can start over if you wanna start the f–k over, you can pause, you can come back. That’s what this song is about.”

There is no shortage these days of singer-songwriters doing the confessional-indie-rock thing. But Teitelbaum offered the real deal: great songs, no fluff, and an honest, heartfelt performance.

The show reminded me why seeing live music is so important. In a world of overproduced albums and carefully managed online personas, watching someone get up there and just play their songs without bells and whistles feels almost radical.

If you missed this show, pay attention next time Blondshell comes to town. Something tells me small venues like the Fine Line won’t be able to contain Teitelbaum much longer.