Faye Webster’s underdressed symphony tour and why openers matter

In October 2024, Faye Webster announced more dates to continue her Underdressed At The Symphony Tour, including a show in Louisville, Kentucky—my hometown. It is rare that artists I like come to Louisville, so I knew I had to go. My best friend and I saw Webster in June 2024 in Newport, Kentucky and it was one of the best experiences of our lives. We secured the tickets back in October and finally, February came around and it was time to experience Faye for the second time. 

In June, we attended the show with my best friend’s boyfriend, and this time around, we went with my boyfriend. Having someone to chauffeur us around while we screamed about being able to see Webster was the perfect start to our day. We all went to a coffee shop in Louisville called Witches Brew. It has the cutest aesthetic with a purple color theme and Halloween decorations all around. I recommend it to anyone at any time of the year. Their croissants are a highlight for me.

After the cafe, we did some thrifting before heading back to my best friend's house to get ready for the concert. Our outfits had been pre-planned for weeks out of excitement, so it was a pretty quick process. 

Once we arrived at the Old Forester's Paristown Hall, we secured our merch and found a spot in the pit near the right side. I bought a vinyl of Webster’s “Atlanta Millionaires Club” album that I wanted back in June when I saw her and my best friend bought a hoodie.

We patiently waited for the opener to come on, which was Mei Ehara. She played the perfect music for relaxing and studying that I immediately wanted to add to my playlist. Her set lasted about 45 minutes. Despite her presence being enjoyed by most, the people behind me were loudly making fun of her the entire set, not only the music, but her as a person. They made multiple xenophobic comments and put everyone around them in a bad mood. 

The newfound habit of people disrespecting and complaining about openers is only growing and can be seen clearly on social media, especially X (Twitter). This is the first time I have experienced it myself and I never want to again. All attendees of a concert should be just as respectful to the opener as they are to the main act. The opener sets the tone of the show, and Ehara did a beautiful job. It was disappointing to hear people make fun of her and not show her the kindness she deserved. 

Webster came on a little after Ehara left the stage and it was as magical as the first time. Hearing the minion introduction and the beat of her song “But Not Kiss” felt surreal. She lifted everyone’s spirits and put on a show I will never forget.

She performed some of her popular hits such as “Kingston,” “Right Side of My Neck” and “Lego Ring.” The highlight of the show for me was hearing her perform “Cheers.” She did not perform this song the first time I saw her live and it includes an iconic scream, which was an unbelievable experience.  

Seeing Webster live is something I would recommend to anyone. She has music that is incredibly easy to fall in love with and I find myself becoming hyper-fixated on a song once I hear her perform it live. Even if you don’t know much of her discography, seeing her in concert is likely to inspire you to listen to more of her. She has a beautiful stage presence and the lights at her shows always match the performances. 

Webster has upcoming shows in Europe, Asia, and Australia, including Glastonbury Festival in England in June.