CHICAGO— On Friday, November 7th, queer pop sensation King Princess took Salt Shed’s stage by storm. Following the release of her third studio album, “Girl Violence,” King Princess kicked off a World Tour of the same name this year. With industrial-influenced singer-songwriter, and personal favorite, Sasami kicking off the night, it was sure to be a powerfully expressive and electrifying show.
As King Princess took the stage alongside her accompanying band, the excited crowd erupted as she launched into an electric opening interlude, followed by the track “Cherry.” From the moment King Princess greeted the crowd with effortless confidence and the musical prowess to back it up, it was sure to be a captivating night powered by artistry.
The show’s set was very representative of King Princess’ entire career, incorporating tracks from all three of her albums, including her debut, “Cheap Queen,” and sophomore LP, “Hold On Baby.” Throughout her performances of newer songs such as “Cry Cry Cry,” and “Get Your Heart Broken,” King Princess demonstrated an unwavering and charismatic stage presence that was further cemented by her killer guitar skills in “Girls.”
With artists providing their own spin on incorporating “surprise songs” into their sets, King Princess brought a fresh take on this concept by bringing a giant inflatable dice onto the stage with different song titles on each side. While I was hoping that the dice would land on the side with an old personal favorite on it, “Trust Nobody,” it ended up landing on the side that said “band shots.” As the full band took shots, King Princess announced that she wanted to play a song regardless of what the dice said, and followed this statement up with a bold and upbeat performance of “Prophet.”
A special part of the night was when King Princess highlighted the early hits of her career with “Talia” and “1950.” As she performed these emotional, queer ballads, a cathartic wave of nostalgia took over the crowd that felt like a time machine back to 2018.
King Princess’ dazzling performance at Salt Shed was a magnificent display of musical skill and showmanship. With enthralling swagger and the talent to back it up, King Princess cements why it was and still is a trailblazer for modern queer pop.
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