The Independent (San Francisco, CA)
03/28/24
For the final city of a series of intimate shows for the sold-out “MONO: Live in Stereo” tour, K.Flay brought her unique blend of alternative-rock and hip-hop to two nights at The Independent and one night at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco, CA. On the second of the three nights, K.Flay (A.K.A. Kristine Flaherty) stepped out in a black boxing ensemble after a recorded announcement boomed over the speaker introducing The Challenger and Champion, her. Facing the back of the stage with her boxing-gloved hands raised over her head, the audience could see “THE PUNISHER” embossed on the back of her boxing robe.
From the moment K.Flay stepped onto the stage, clad to fit the boxing motif of the show, she commanded the attention of the audience with her dynamic presence. Opening with the tracks “Are You Serious?” and “Raw Raw” from her fifth and latest studio album, MONO, the crowd was immediately drawn into the raw intensity of her performance. Continuing on with songs like “Carsick” from MONO and “Four Letter Words” from her fourth album, Inside Voice / Outside Voices, showcased her versatility as an artist, with gritty guitar riffs colliding with slick beats and clever wordplay.
But it wasn’t just K.Flay’s musical prowess that captivated the audience, it was also her raw authenticity and genuine connection with her fans. Throughout the show, she paused to talk to the audience, at one point touching on her recent hearing loss in one ear, which inspired several songs on her newest album. Partway through the show, she took a few minutes to lead a collective meditation on letting go, before jumping straight back to the high energy “TGIF.”
As the set reached its climax, K.Flay unleashed an electrifying energy that swept through the venue, culminating in a powerful final few songs, tearing through her Grammy-nominated hit “Blood In The Cut” and popular “High Enough” from her 2017 album, Every Where Is Somewhere, and ending with one more song from MONO, “Perfectly Alone.”
In the end, K.Flay’s performance at The Independent was more than just a concert, it was a cathartic experience that allowed fans to escape the chaos of the world and immerse themselves in the music – which was exactly what was intended.
