Photos and review by NOTES FROM VIVACE
LOS ANGELES – Sasami launched her U.S. Blood On the Silver Screen tour in her hometown of Los Angeles. Having relocated to Northern California in order to focus on the new album, the Lodge Room welcomed her back with a sold out crowd to celebrate the 2025 release.
With an eerie soundtrack filling the venue, Sasami Ashworth walked onto the stage, carrying her French horn as a nod to her classical music training. She gave it a parade around the stage before putting it aside for the more contemporary electric guitar. Ten of her fourteen song set were from the recent album release. The fan base was obviously familiar with the music, as the crowd joined in the lyrics to “Honeycrash,” singing passionately “Honey, don’t count me out. Even when the heavens sour.” As the song ended, she gave a feral scream.
It being the first stop of the tour, there were some kinks to iron out. One such kink was the lack of water bottles on stage.
“It’s like the first day of school,” she said. “And I’m wearing all white. And maybe I just started my period. Anyways, now it’s third period. Did you all do your homework?” The Lodge Room staff came through with the water bottles and Ashworth distributed the water bottles between herself and her two-piece backing band.
“I’ll Be Gone” had an uptempo beat. She encouraged the crowd to dance to the song, but if anyone was too shy, she suggested another style of dancing. She introduced the catwalk dance as she sashayed across the stage a couple times, which included the Zoolander model stare.
She veered away from showcasing her most recent music with “Need It To Work” and “Not The Time.” “Need It To Work” is a metal driven song that had her playing the electric guitar under the red stage lights. She encouraged the crowd to start up a mosh pit and those in the center of the floor were more than happy to comply. “Are you feral yet?!?!”
“World premiere” was shouted out for “Lose It All” and got some of the loudest screams of approval from the crowd. It is a beautifully renditioned song that floats alongside the clouds. The same could also be said for “Call Me Home.”
For “In Love With A Memory,” Ashworth welcomed dora jar to the stage to the delight of the crowd. Dora jar responded, “I’ll do my best to be Clairo.” Afterwards, Ashworth mentioned that the two first crossed paths in Vancouver. Due to her mental state at the time, which she didn’t go into as her father was in the audience, her initial conversation with dora jar started with, “Are you dressed like a deer?”
Undoubtedly, the most fun had by the crowd was for the song “Slugger.” She asked the crowd, “Are there any baseball fans in the crowd?” Putting on a glove and grabbing some water balloons, she threw some strikeouts into the crowd.
The french horn was not forgotten. It took a primary role in an interlude piece between her last two songs and for the final song “Nothing But A Sad Face On” she played the final notes with it.
Opening up the night was Jia Pet. Joined by her bassist Harriet Brown, she came on stage with an infectious enthusiasm. With tracks driving the music, Jia Pet danced it up as the hype opening act. “I want to see some dancing,” she yelled out at the start. She really has a love for her song “Just Shut Up” as she played it twice. The audience did not mind at all. “Acting up doing something I’ll regret. Just shut up!” She also highlighted the theme of the night for the crowd, “We’re going to have so much f*cking fun!,” which meant the inclusion of a bubble machine for her set. The music did head in a more serious direction for “Come Home Honey.” The music had a solemn tone. In a soft voice, Jia Pet introduced the song by saying, “I hate breakups.” “I guess I’m not your perfect little girlfriend.”
Sasami Setlist: Honeycrash, For the Weekend, I’ll Be Gone, Love makes You Do Crazy Things, Need It To Work, Not The Time, Lose It All, Call Me Home, In Love With A Memory (featuring dora jar), Possessed, Slugger, Just Be Friends, The Seed, Nothing But A Sad Face On.
Jia Pet setlist: Neuro Fuzz, Just Shut Up, Just Shut Up, Candy Painted Misfit, Bubbly, Cuckoo, Interlude (a bee’s dream), Come Home Honey, Ribbon.
