Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Marie Ulven Ringheim, the musician known professionally as girl in red, played two nights recently at the Greek Theatre. How might one sum up the second night in one word? Red.
Reingheim started off her set with “DOING IT AGAIN BABY” from her sophomore album I’M DOING IT AGAIN BABY! The buzzy, tech vocal song had her at the top of a riser while the Greek Theatre lights team splashed the stage in red. Sometimes, you’ve got to make the obvious connection.
What could be another one word summation? Running. After an hour plus set, the last song of the night was “i wanna be your girlfriend.” Ringheim took off running up the stairs of the Greek Theatre, fist bumping fans along the way. Stopping half way up, she took a moment to continue singing before running even faster down the steps. Someone must do their cardio. Also, during a brief set break, the stage screen showed shadow images running across.
Let’s go with another one word, shall we? Interactive. When lyrics were forgotten for one song, a fan was able to provide the appropriate hints for the song to continue and was thanked afterwards. Two other fans asked that the artist sign their wedding album, which she obliged with a rather lengthy entry that she spoke out loud so that everyone knew what was being written.
And a two-word phrase for the night, pride flags. Fans at the front of the stage pit waved pride flags throughout the night. The song “girls” summed it up best “They’re so pretty, it hurts. I’m not talking ’bout boys, I’m talking ’bout girls. They’re so pretty with their button-up shirts.”
Comment of the night: “Over here is actually a hidden piano. And because, since I’m in LA, this might be the right place to be my most pretentious self. Because this whole set design is actually inspired by my Italian design lamps that I have in my apartment. And this was one of the few places I feel comfortable saying that, because I sound like an asshole when I say it.”
Ringheim does like to bamboozle (favorite word of the night) her audience. She briefly discussed Billie Eilish’s “LUNCH” and then said she was playing it next. A loud roar came from the audience, but it was a fake out. Instead she took to the piano and played the darkly reminiscent and yet positive outlook lyrics of “I’m Back.” The song “Pick Me” was also played on the piano with quiet tones that erupted with strong chords – a song “about being a jealous fucking bitch and being absolutely delusional.”
The song that got the most crowd participation was “You Stupid Bitch.” The crowd screamed loud the lyrics “You stupid bitch.”
The lights team hit a high note with the song “Rue” where emerald lights graced the stage. Ringheim also showed her unrattled nature during the song. Her band started off while she was taking a sip of water. She didn’t show any sense of panic, but simply asked her band to restart the song.
For the song “You Need Me Now?” that features Sabrina Carpenter on the recording, she asked the crowd to sing the Carpenter vocals. The night ended with Ringheim taking a well deserved drink of water, which she then sprayed out in a mist to conclude the night. “Thank you, so so much.”
Rumor is that she might be moving to Los Angeles, but who knows, maybe the audience was just being bamboozled.
The Beaches opened the night, with all four members wearing “Blame Girl In Red” white t-shirts. They’re filled with sky high energy. The band took full advantage of the stage by dancing, jumping, skipping their way through the set. With all that, it is their harmonies that steal the show.
You’ve got to love a band that has been grinding it out since 2009 (prior band name being Done with Dolls). The band had a really tough year in 2022 and then found their breakout song “Blame Brett” in 2023. For the song “Edge of the Earth,” the crowd was asked to “Please sing along, please be my therapist.” And for the song “Blame Brett” they told the crowd “let’s blame all our exes.” The band walked off waving a pride flag that someone in the crowd had handed them.
girl in red setlist: DOING IT AGAIN BABY, bad idea!, girls, New Love, Body and Mind, I’m Back, Pick Me, Ugly Side, October Passed Me By, we fell in love in october, Phantom Pain, You Stupid Bitch, Serotonin, Too Much, midnight love, Rue, A Night To Remember, dead girl in the pool., You Need Me Now?, i wanna be your girlfriend.
The Beaches setlist: What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Paranoid, Everything is Boring, Cigarette, Me & Me, Shower Beer, Edge of the Earth, Blame Brett.
