Review || Boygenius

I had the absolute delight of seeing Soak, Ethel Cain, MUNA and Boygenuis in Gunnersbury Park in London. It was the largest event that I have been to since the pandemic – around 25,000 fans were spread throughout the park. The line up consisted of all queer artists and was billed as a somewhat spiritual sister to Lilith Fair. I’ve never seen so many people in merch with thousands donning homemade “always an angel / never a god” t-shirts.

All of the musicians exuded a glee and chemistry that was contagious. The overwhelming feeling of the evening was one of joy. The Irish folk singer Soak started the afternoon with some indie folk. Soak seemed grateful and a tad nervous. Then Florida-born Ethel Cain took the stage with a spectacular set from last year’s Preacher’s Daughter. It was Gothic-styled and absolutely spellbinding. I had goosebumps when Ethel sang “Family Tree”.

Then MUNA came on stage, fresh from supporting Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour. They brought energy and pop to the stage. Phoebe Bridgers came on stage to sing in MUNA’s Silk Chiffon and the crowd went wild.

Boygenius is a supergroup comprised of Phoebe Bridgers, Julie Baker and Lucy Dacus. They begin singing backstage to Without You Without Them acapella. Each member had their own solo track throughout the evening and the had the crowd twisted around their fingers. The gig closed with Salt in the Wound, fireworks erupted and MUNA and Ethel Cain came back on stage for the big finale.

It was a flawless day of music. At times the quieter vocals were lost in the vastness of the space, but that was the only critique.

Set lists:

Ethel Cain:

1. A House in Nebraska
2. American Teenager
3. Family Tree
4. Thoroughfare
5. Gibson Girl
6. Sun Bleached Flies
7. Crush

MUNA:

1. What I Want
2. Number One Fan
3. Solid
4. Stayaway
5. Runner’s High
6. No Idea
7. Taken
8. Home by Now
9. Anything but Me
10. One That Got Away
11. I Know a Place
12. Silk Chiffon
    
    

Boygenius:

1. Without You Without Them
2. $20
3. Satanist
4. Emily I’m Sorry
5. True Blue
6. Cool About It
7. Souvenir
8. Bite the Hand
9. Revolution 0
10. Stay Down
11. Leonard Cohen
12. Please Stay
13. Favor
14. Graceland Too
15. Boyfriends
16. Me & My Dog
17. We’re in Love
18. Anti‐Curse
19. Letter to an Old Poet
20. Not Strong Enough
    (Encore)
21. Ketchum, ID
22. Salt in the Wound