Concert Review: If the World Was Spinning, it's Not Anymore: Meg Smith Delivers a Show-stopping Performance in Tampa, FL.

It's an unusually cold evening as the sun shines on the historic cobblestone streets of Ybor City here in Tampa, Florida. Though only a Monday night, the air is filled with an undeniable excitement at Crowbar, located at the corner of East 8th and North 17th.  Inside this popular music sanctuary, adoring fans in halos and angel wings are scattered around the room, patiently waiting to be blessed with killer vocals, catchy lyrics, and the unmistakable energy of Meg Smith, who has been traveling across the US in support of the talented artist Ellise on the Pretty Evil Tour. 

Born in LA and based in New York, Meg grew up as a very musically and artistically inclined child.  At the age of 12, she began to seriously take pen to paper, writing songs as a way to make sense of the world around her during her school years; and at 15, she began to make music.  A graduate of NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and working as a full-time nanny (up until about a year and a half ago), she first made waves on the music scene in September of 2020 with the release of her first EP, American in Paris. In February of 2023, she released her second EP, Rom Com Pop, followed by her project, The Gospel According to Meg Smith, in 2024.  Meg celebrated the release of her debut album, Disco Dystopia on November 7, 2025. Her songs "Jesus Christ in a Mini Skirt" and "Cross My Heart I Hope U Die" have each amassed over two million streams on Spotify. The latter song, released in 2021, appeared on the Netflix hit series "Ginny and Georgia." Meg has been gracing the stage for some time now, touring with artists like Zolita and Molly Grace in addition to Ellise. 

Looking around at the smiling faces here tonight, I can tell we are in for quite a treat.

As the clock strikes 8, the lights dim, and Chris Peters takes a seat behind a shining white and silver-striped Tama drum kit.  Wasting no time, he grabs the attention of the room with an ear-catching drum intro.  The notes of the song “God Damn Baby” echo throughout the room as Meg Smith walks onto the stage.  Fitted in her signature angel wings and halo, along with pink sequined shorts, a sparkling top, and silver boots, she looks into the crowd with a big smile and starts to sing. Fans, without missing a beat, join in shortly after, and the night begins. Meg commands the stage and has the room singing and dancing as she flows through her setlist with songs like “Winner,” “You Fake Your British Accent,” and “Girls Just Want to Be Famous.” Her energy is magnetic, and her connection with fans is undeniable. She hilariously puts a spell on a fan's ex.  She allows the crowd to choose between four songs based on applause.  "I Kissed a Girl," "Hit Me Baby One More Time," a classic ABBA track, and a four-minute interpretive drum solo with bird sounds by Chris Peters.  Equipped with a decibel meter, Meg takes measurements, and hilariously, the drum solo is a close second, while ABBA silences the room entirely. But it's Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" that wins in the end.  As a bonus, Ellise's guitarist Evan Yoshino rocks out on the tune as well.  As the night continues, Meg sings and dances in the crowd, plays on a sweet pink Daisy Rock guitar, and displays her vocal strength on the song "Joni."  

To close out the evening, Meg sings her hit "Jesus Christ in a Mini Skirt" and wows the crowd even more by playing a pink alto saxophone, then masterfully transitions back to vocals.  As the last notes of the song ring out into the room, there is nothing but joy on the faces of those in attendance.

To say that Meg Smith—"The Patron Saint of "Pop"—blessed Tampa with her performance would be a gross understatement. She brought so much more than just her music to the stage—she brought joy, talent, and a sense of community that was palpable and inclusive, and I look forward to the many stages she will undoubtedly grace in the years to come.