By Riley Moulton
CHICAGO – A Monday night in rainy Lincoln park is the last place I anticipated being absolutely blown away by Sasami’s infectious personality and vocals. I would have never guessed I would be emotionally wrecked, in the best way possible, by her powerhouse vocals. The New York based singer brought all the freak flare to Lincoln Hall while on her “Blood On A Silver Screen” tour. This show turned a burnout-season Monday into what felt like a euphoric Friday night at one of Chicago’s hottest underground clubs.
The crowd was a beautiful blur of movement and intimacy. Queer couples kissing in rhythm, groups of friends swaying in slow unison, strangers dancing like they’d known each other for years. Time and responsibility evaporated. For one electric night, no one cared about emails, deadlines, or the looming 9-to-5.
Opening act Mood Killer, kicked off the night with his magnificent dance moves, bringing the magic to Lincoln park for his hometown show. His performance of tracks like “Abracadabra” and “Happy Birthday” worked like spells, casting just the right amount of anticipation into the room before Sasami’s arrival.
When Sasami finally walked out on the stage, it felt like a celestial being coming down from above. Dressed in a flowing white skirt and top, she looked like a dream. Ethereal, yet commanding. She opened with the infectious melody of “Figure It Out.” Lincoln Hall immediately danced, no hesitation, they just moved. It was like a trance, watching everyone forget about whatever they’re Monday night responsibilities were. The beat was practically reaching in and encapsulating everyone in.
Before the heartbreaking song “Honeycrash,” she encouraged her fans to let it all out, “Alright Chicago are you ready to dance?” And despite the tears in some eyes and the emotional weight of the song, the room responded with motion. It was raw and beautiful, grief and release wrapped in glitter and synth.
Midway through the set, Sasami took fans on a nostalgic ride by diving into tracks from her self-titled debut album. The mood shifted as she leaned into the hard rock songs that first put her on the map, such as “Call Me Home” and ‘Not The Time.” Songs layered with vulnerability and multiple distorted guitars. As the night began to wind down, she closed with a powerful one-two punch, the bittersweet “In Love with a Memory” featuring Clairo, followed by the explosive anthem “Slugger.” Fans were screaming out their zodiac signs before in unison, screaming “I’m such a Cancer.” It was a perfect finale – soft ache giving way to full-throttle release, leaving the crowd buzzing long after the lights came up.
There’s something about a Monday night show that feels rebellious. Everyone in that room had been an adult that day. They had clocked in, sent emails, endured meetings or classes or just the weight of living. And yet, they showed up. They dressed up. They danced. It was a collective act of defiance and joy. A reminder that even in the most exhausting weeks, there’s still room for beauty, catharsis, and connection.
Sasami didn’t just perform at Lincoln Hall, she created a space where people could forget, remember, cry, dance, and most of all, feel. Monday night has never felt so sacred.
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