Concert Review: Kelsy Karter and the Heroines with Grace McKagan at Antone's in Austin, TX

The Aussie/Brit band Kelsy Karter and the Heroines stormed into Texas—literally, thanks to severe weather in Dallas on night one of their three-city stop of The Pleasure Tour. I caught up with them on their Austin date at Antone's.

Kelsy brought along opener Grace McKagan, who is no stranger to the stage. She’s been performing since she was 15 and is probably best known as the frontwoman for the punk-grunge band The Pink Slips. Grace and her solo band took the stage promptly at 8 p.m.

I’ve recently been vibing to Grace’s music in my car, so I was excited to see how it would translate live. Her sound has a sexy, ’60s sunny California beach-meets-grunge feel, and I could only imagine how that energy would come across onstage. She opened with “Checkmate,” which begins with a slow, tribal beat that builds into a sultry guitar rhythm. Grace’s vocals are both sweet and seductive, shifting effortlessly into powerful grunge moments. I’d be remiss not to mention her stage presence—her movements are as alluring as her music.

She delivered a solid nine-song set, closing with two of her biggest hits, “Heart of Hearts” and “Surrender.” By the end, I was left wanting more—but I’ll have to wait until next time.

Having seen Kelsy Karter and the Heroines before, I knew I was in for a night of wildly unapologetic rock ’n’ roll—and that’s exactly what we got. Kelsy and the band have an impressive catalog, so the big question was: what would they play tonight?

As the lights dimmed, dialogue from The Rocky Horror Picture Show filled the room—you know the scene: Brad and Janet in the ballroom as Dr. Frank-N-Furter sings “Sweet Transvestite.” After we all shivered with antici...pation, Kelsy Karter and the Heroines took the stage. Kelsy appeared in a tiara, white feather boa, and cheetah-print corset—very RHPS.

She opened a cappella with the first verse of “God Knows I’ve Tried,” before the band kicked in. From that moment on, we were fully in Kelsy’s world. She clearly loves the stage, and it shows. At one point, she joked that she’s not afraid to come down into the audience if she doesn’t see people singing along—I wasn’t about to test her.

Kelsy is backed by the Heroines: lead guitarist Matt Peach, bassist Tommy Gent, and drummer Sebastian Boyse. They’re a dynamic group that elevates every performance and lets Kelsy truly shine. Matt’s riffs add bite to songs like “Devil on My Shoulder” and “Catch Me If You Can” (both

of which made the setlist).

The band delivered a stunning 14-song set, closing with fan favorites “Harry” and “Liquor Store on Mars.” Kelsy Karter and the Heroines are the kind of band that leaves a lasting impression long after the show ends. I highly recommend catching them on this tour—or the next time they come through a city near you.