Castro Theatre (San Francisco, CA)
10/23/23
The atmosphere at the Castro Theater crackled with anticipation as Ethel Cain took the stage for the first of two sold-out nights in San Francisco to end the “Blood Stained Blonde” tour. The historic venue, with its ornate architecture and rich cultural history, provided the perfect backdrop for an evening that seamlessly blended raw emotion and powerful vocals, making for an overall captivating performance. The concert-goers, dressed in the Southern gothic aesthetic that marks Ethel Cain’s music and visuals, hung onto every word that was sung. The tour is the second set of shows that supported Ethel’s debut studio album, Preacher’s Daughter, released last year.
The short but effective set consisted mostly of songs from Preacher’s Daughter, with eight songs from the album that made up the entire main set. The entirely seated venue was filled to the brim, and as Ethel Cain – wearing a long white dress, heeled loafers, and a cross necklace – made her entrance, everyone stood up for the rest of the night to worship at her altar. Opening the show with “Strangers,” the final track on the album, Ethel immediately established a visceral connection with the audience. The haunting melodies and emotionally charged lyrics of songs like “American Teenager” and “A House In Nebraska” resonated through the theater next, and the night continued with the mellow yet powerful energy that emanated from the stage. Ethel’s stage presence was magnetic, drawing the audience into her world with every note as she glided back and forth on stage, making eye contact with those in the audience. Her voice, a mix of vulnerability and strength, soared through the venue, leaving an indelible impression on everyone in attendance.
The soft nature of her show made the room feel intimate, with all attention directed only on Ethel and the words that she sang. She directed that intimacy back at the audience as well; during “Gibson Girl,” a deeply emotional and introspective song, Ethel crouched down on the edge of the stage and held an audience member’s hand as she sang. After the emotionally charged “Sun Bleached Flies,” Ethel and her band exited the stage for a moment before returning for “Crush,” the only song not from Preacher’s Daughter and instead a favorite from her 2021 project, Inbred. As the final notes of the encore faded away and Ethel took her final bow, the audience erupted in applause, and as the house lights came back on, was only left in awe of what they had just experienced.
