Show Review: Kings Elliot and Stephen Sanchez
02-17-23: Kings Elliot opening for Stephen Sanchez at Brighton Music Hall. Photos by Julia Finocchiaro.
By Jillian Iredale
A self-declared “sick puppy,” Kings Elliot gave the audience of Brighton Music Hall a brief glimpse into her psyche. Expertly weaving together the catchy melodies of bedroom pop with her own internal demons, the London-based singer continues to push the boundaries of the “sad girl” music craze. As an advocate for mental health, Elliot speaks openly about her daily struggles, having been diagnosed with borderline personality and anxiety disorders from a young age. With heavy influences from indie-icon Lana Del Rey and the melancholic sounds of the 1940s and 50s, Elliot displays her unique ability to unify the timeless relevance of music’s past with modern lyrics and soundscapes.
While there were moments throughout the night when her heart-on-sleeve lyricism came off as cliche, the majority of her songs were received well, particularly among the teens scattered throughout the audience. It’s no surprise that Elliot’s confessional songwriting would find a home among the young Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski fans in the crowd.
Opening with her debut single, “Tired of Me,” Elliot was welcomed to the stage by curious and eager listeners, many of them unfamiliar with the singer-songwriter’s work. While the crowd’s energy started off low, Elliot was quickly able to rally support with the chest thumping bass and gut-wrenching melody of “Til I Die,” a song dedicated to her mental health and emotional baggage.
The singer’s expressive stage presence, reminiscent of a young Billie Eilish, improved with each song, ironically peaking in its most stripped-back form. During “Ashes by the Morning,” rather than relying on dramatic and somewhat repetitive gestures, Eliott sat calmly on a stool as she serenaded the audience, explaining her need for support during life’s low points. The authentic delivery added a new dimension to Elliot's setlist, which she later described as a refined version of her diary. “It helps me heal little by little every day,” she said while taking a brief break from performing to record the audience shouting “sick puppy,” a term she coined during her early years as a songwriter. “A sick puppy is a person who struggles with their mental health, but just keeps fighting through each day,” Elliot explained, proudly displaying the “sick puppy” tattoo stamped across the back of her hand. What may have come off as an interruption to some allowed Elliot to connect with her audience, letting her charming spirits and relatability shine through, with one audience member gifting her a hand-made hat as she spoke.
The performance came to a close with a powerful rendition of Elliot’s most popular song, “Call Me a Dreamer,” which explores her desperate desire for emotional stability. Despite some sync issues in the first verse, Elliot skillfully regained control, jumping into the chorus with ease. Featuring perfectly toned belts and melodic runs, the song left the audience with a sense of intimacy that lent itself perfectly to Stephen Sanchez’s heartfelt set to follow.
After 40 minutes of emotional ballads, Sanchez’s energetic entrance brought the room back to life. Dozens of phones shot to the air as the lyrics of “Hey Girl” rang through the hall. The energy only increased as the audience echoed, “I wanna love you. I wanna love you,” screaming as the charismatic Nashville-born singer surveyed the crowd atop a snare drum. The lighthearted vibrancy of Sanchez and his band created a stark contrast to Elliot’s heartbreaking display of emotion. Throughout the set, Sanchez leaned into his child-like joy, playfully tugging on his bandmate’s tie or cracking jokes between verses. Even when Sanchez took the stage alone, debuting two tear-jerking songs about a lost romance, the room’s energy never wavered. The un-released, acoustic set provided a necessary breather for the crowd, allowing the audience to fully absorb the singer’s melodic storytelling.
A young singer-songwriter brought to fame through social media, Sanchez’s indie-folk sound is akin to that of rising star Noah Kahan, featuring honest lyrics and subtle notes of country and rock. While Sanchez’s fanbase was created through Gen Z’s obsession with TikTok, his audience quickly expanded beyond the app’s limits, filling Brighton Music Hall with a diverse range of listeners.
By the end of the night, it was clear that both performers were passionate about their work, filling Brighton Music Hall with vibrant music and endearing personalities. Elliot and Sanchez played off of each other perfectly, with both sets highlighting their talents as songwriters and vocalists. The two artists, accompanied by dedicated bandmates and skilled music technicians, were able to create a deeply emotional show that left the crowd clamoring for encores.