Concert Review: Violet Grohl
This was a show I had been looking forward to for months. For those who read my recent album review of Violet Grohl, I literally got halfway through my first listen before I was already hunting for tickets. I have covered some massive, established artists so far this year, but this was easily one of my most anticipated sets.
It felt unusual stepping into the Star Theater for an all-ages gig. Swapping stories with friends and fellow fans in the crowd, none of us could remember ever attending an all-ages show at this venue. Yet, the night was a total sellout, packed with younger fans accompanied by parents, older siblings, aunts, and uncles. If this turnout is any indication, future touring acts should take note: all-ages shows here are a massive success.
Watching minors get "X'ed" out on both hands brought a nostalgic smile to my face. Most all-ages shows in Portland choose to split the crowd, usually keeping the 21+ crowd upstairs or splitting the floor down the middle. Tonight, the audience was entirely mixed, and it was beautiful. While security was a bit tighter than usual, the Portland music community proved they are more than responsible enough for mixed-age events. Both the staff and the fans did an excellent job. I didn't see anyone over-served or obnoxious, nor did I witness any minors trying to sneak drinks.
To be completely honest, I walked into the venue knowing nothing about the opening act, Suzy Clue, and I quickly regretted not doing my homework. There is no better feeling than showing up solely for the headliner, only to have the opening band leave an undeniable, lasting impression.
The Star Theater usually leans dark, a moodiness I've come to expect from the space. But the moment Suzy hit the stage, it lit up both figuratively and literally. It was an incredibly fun set from a band I will absolutely be tracking moving forward. Frankly, I am shocked there isn't more buzz around them yet. Suzy Clue commands a brilliant sound that drifts from a soft, sweet, pop-infused melody before turning on a dime into a heavy, chugging wall of sound. Think a female-fronted Deftones mixed with a sharp industrial edge.
Purely from a sonic standpoint, pairing her with Violet Grohl felt like an odd choice at first. However, they share just enough stylistic common ground to make it work, proving just how formidable women are in the music industry right now. Across all genres, women are completely taking over.
If you are looking for an entry point into Suzy Clue, "Uneasy" is my personal favorite track. It perfectly captures her signature transition from sweet, pop-esque verses to dark, gothic, and aggressive choruses. The entire set burst with energy and attitude. The only minor hiccup was a brief wardrobe malfunction that caused a short delay toward the end of their set, but the band handled it with absolute grace.
I will admit that I likely walked into the building with unattainable expectations. Violet is, after all, the daughter of one of my all-time favorite musicians, and her record Be Sweet to Me remains my favorite album of the year. It is easy to forget that she is a 20-year-old woman supporting a debut album on her very first headlining tour, one that already boasts multiple sold-out dates. These are massive milestones for someone so early in their musical journey.
When I review a show, I always split my attention. Most of my focus goes toward capturing a few great photos, listening to the mix, and reminding myself to actually be present as a fan. The rest of my energy is spent watching the crowd, observing how they act, what they are saying, and how they interact.
My immediate takeaway from the Portland crowd was just how deeply engaged they were. They weren't just shouting every lyric or singing the choruses for her; rather, Violet held them in the palm of her hand in a way I am not sure she even realized. When she first walked out, the room erupted in the typical burst of headliner excitement. But during the 15 to 20 seconds it took for her to approach the microphone before the band struck the first note, the room fell into an eerie, pin-drop silence. The crowd hung on her every breath and movement. The anticipation had a stranglehold on the room, not a peep from the crowd, not a single movement. Just pure, heavy silence. Then, Violet wrapped her hand around the mic stand, leaning into her signature grip, and the band launched into "Stimulant Breakfast." The crowd instantly came alive.
It is worth noting just how extraordinarily talented her backing band is. I couldn't quite make out their names when Violet introduced them over the PA, which is a shame because I would love to shout them out individually. I truly hope she continues to collaborate with these same musicians because the chemistry of the project feels incredibly special.
Unsurprisingly, my favorite studio tracks translated beautifully to the stage. "Cool Buzz," "Thumb," and "Bugs in the Cake" did not disappoint. A few songs even caught me by surprise. "Last Day I Loved You" never particularly stood out to me on the record, but its live rendition was excellent.
Visually, the performance felt like stepping back in time. While Suzy Clue proved the venue can handle a bright, clean stage, Violet's set opted for a '90s grunge aesthetic. It was dark, moody, and atmospheric, evoking images of voices singing from the shadows. For most of the night, a singular color washed over the stage with almost no spotlights or dynamic movement. The lighting was locked in, simple, and effective.
Violet and company played through every track on Be Sweet to Me, a standard move for a debut headlining tour. However, instead of filling out the rest of the setlist with covers, they treated us to three unreleased tracks. These new songs say a lot about her trajectory as an artist. Two of them lean heavily into the more aggressive side of '90s alt-rock. One of the unreleased tracks, "Sun is Blind," is bound to become a fast favorite of mine; hearing the opening drum fills, I honestly thought they were transitioning into a Soundgarden cover. It absolutely banged.
Conversely, another unreleased track showcases her singer-songwriter sensibilities without completely abandoning her retro grunge roots. Violet possesses a beautiful, delicate softness that reminds me of Mazzy Star, one of my favorite underrated bands of the '90s. The track "Swallowtail" beautifully mirrors that same ethereal quality. Her softness isn't a fragile whisper but rather an inviting tone, like someone encouraging you to step just a little closer.
While her heavy, driving songs provide my favorite musical moments of the night, the most memorable highlights were actually the quietest. It was in those fragile spaces between songs, when Violet would catch her breath, that fans would cut through the theater's silence to echo, "We love you, V!"
Final Thoughts
Violet Grohl is a true artist. From the music to her curated Instagram aesthetic and intentional stage lighting, everything feels deliberate. Yet, everything about her persona feels much older than it should. That is the ultimate Violet Grohl trap: she presents herself with the poise of an artist twice her age and with twice her experience, making it incredibly easy to forget that we are witnessing the very beginning of her story.
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