Concert Review: Minneapolis-based songsmith, Samia, made her return to the Bloodless tour this week in Atlanta, giving fans her best possible performance on night one.

Samia in Atlanta shot by Rayna Sklar

Samia kicked off her return to the Bloodless tour here in Atlanta this week, giving fans her best performance possible on night one. It was truly unfortunate that I had missed out on Samia’s tour for Honey a couple years ago, having to live through the Atlanta date only through photos. So, this year, I knew I had to be present-- and I am very glad I was as I got to experience live, a lot of my favorite songs from all three of her records, but why didn’t she play Charm You! Though she did play Kill Her Freak Out and it was-- CHILLING. 

Opening the night was Brooklyn-based artist Hank Heaven, who had actually played guitar in Samia’s band in the past. I wasn’t familiar with their music before this night but by the end of their set, I was very much a fan of Hank’s. They opened their set praising Samia and gushing over how they get to be friends with Samia, it was very wholesome. Heaven used their set to perform a plethora of songs from their latest album, Loaded Dice, that was released late last year. My listening recommendations for Hank Heaven would be Matchstick and Reno but definitely also listen to Beloved, more of a pop song that also features Beach Bunny.

After Samia's band set the tone on stage, the now Minneapolis-based songsmith came out to sing Triptych from her debut album, immediately followed by Dare and Fair Game from her new record, Bloodless. Let me tell you, Samia’s vocal performance that night, I don't know if it was just because it was her first night back on tour or if I just had too many angry orchids, I had one, it was the best live vocal experience I've had this year although I've not gone to any Sabrina Carpenter concerts this year. It seemed like at times, just with her voice, she was able to silence everyone in the audience for really important moments. 

Samia in Atlanta shot by Rayna Sklar

As I'm listening to and experiencing the rest of the set, I'm remembering all of these solid singles that were on Bloodless. It was really nice to get to hear songs like Hole In A Frame, Pants, and Lizard, that I had been listening to a lot towards the beginning of the year before the album came out that further set the tone for the album after the perfect lead single that is Bovine Excision.

After Samia, as she said it, “pretend finishes” her show with Pants, fans knew she had more songs to sing. Samia and the band came back up on stage moments later after tons of cheering, starting her three-song encore with fan-favorite Pool from her debut album, Baby, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year. She then followed that up with Is There Something in the Movies? the final song off that same record. Samia sang us farewell with Honey, the title track of her last album, the perfect end to a ‘if that wasn’t perfect than what even would be for where she’s at’ performance.