Surprises and Emotions: The Blondshell Experience at Austin Psych Fest

Joaquin Lewis

Local Music Journalist

To deliver their best performances, some artists require a large stage, while others thrive on a smaller one. Blondshell, however, is a glowing exception. Regardless of size, she always manages to make the stage her own through captivating performances full of nuance and clarity. With her recent performance on the Janis Stage fitting in perfectly with the vibe of the Far Out Lounge, Blondshell provided a catalog of songs full of beautiful pop melodies laced with the rough and distorted guitars found in your ideal rock ensemble.

In support of her self-titled debut album released in late 2023, Blondshell’s visit to this year’s Austin Psych Fest was seen as highly anticipated through the reactions of everyone in attendance. With a crowd beginning to form twenty minutes before her set was scheduled to start, a feeling of fevered excitement found itself washing over everyone in attendance. People were weaving their way through small gaps in the crowd as the eerie chimes of a nursery rhyme, reminiscent of a horror movie, echoed throughout the venue. As the backing band mysteriously made their way onto the stage, they quickly broke into the song “Veronica Mars” as Blondshell welcomed herself on stage.

Initially unaware of who Blondhsell was as an artist, I was surprised to discover through her performance just how many songs of hers were already scattered among my playlists. As I found myself singing along to tracks like “Kiss City” and “Joiner” almost instinctually, all the memories I have associated with each one came flooding right back. This experience encapsulates what makes Blondshell so special and gives reason behind the excitement displayed by those in attendance. With an ability to cut to the core of whatever emotion you may be feeling, her expertly crafted songs manage to become a part of the soundtrack to your life.

As the performance neared its eventual end, Blondshell informed us that her set list was shorter than planned. With an improvised switch from her song “Tarmac” to her song “Salad,” the spontaneous pseudo-encore added a perfect ending to an already emotionally resonant live music experience. Blondshell’s live performances can be characterized by her powerful vocals and raw energy, but they offer so much more than that. With a discography full of songs ready to become a part of your day-to-day life, a live performance by Blondshell can quickly shift from an average concert to a uniquely transformative experience.