Gracie Abrams’ three-night residency at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles was far from secret.
On September 12, Abrams closed out the Los Angeles leg of “The Secret of Us” tour with a sold-out show to promote her sophomore album. A native Angeleno, Abrams said the Greek was a “bucket-list” venue for her.
In the past year alone, Abrams opened for Taylor Swift’s “The Eras’ Tour,” earned a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, and debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.
Her cult following was palpable as over five thousand teen girls and young women packed the outdoor amphitheater. Known for her enchanting love songs and deeply emotional heartbreak anthems, Abrams has found her niche with teen girls and young adults who likely are experiencing love for the first time. Clad in frilly white dresses, pale yellow tops and dainty hair ribbons, many concertgoers channeled the ethereal aesthetic of Abrams’ indie pop album.
Abrams started the show by powering through the first three track listings from the album, melancholic “Felt Good About You,” lead single “Risk” and the scathing “Blowing Smoke.”
After this initial trio, Abrams took a break to address the crowd.
“You’re all just really extraordinary, really special, really important people,” she said. “I truly attempt to weave your generosity into my songs and stories.”
Abrams described “The Secret of Us” as her way of processing “very big feelings in a very short period of time.” The self-proclaimed queen of “sad girl pop” asked the crowd if anyone could relate. Thousands of hands shot up in the air, serving as a reminder of the deep bond Abrams shares with her fans.
This moment of connection between Abrams and the crowd was the perfect segue into “I Love You, I’m Sorry,” a fan favorite, folk-pop song capturing moments of raw honesty and regret within a relationship.
After performing a mix of songs from “The Secret of Us,” her debut album “Good Riddance” and her two extended plays, Abrams took note from mentor-turned-best friend Taylor Swift and deviated from the normal setlist to do one acoustic surprise song. This night’s selection was “Best,” a repetitive, yet heartwrenching, slow song that reflects on past mistakes with a former boyfriend.
Other highlights from the second half of the set included a high-energy rendition of “Good Luck Charlie,” a duet to “Feels Like” with tour opener Role Model, and the empowering anthem “Tough Love” that had every concertgoer belting at the top of their lungs and dancing in their seats.
The set winded down with an electric performance of “I miss you, I’m sorry,” the vulnerable piano ballad that first put Abrams on the map back in 2020. Abrams sang every word with power and precision - reminding fans why they fell in love with her music in the first place.
The main set ended with “Free Now,” but Abrams returned for an encore that included “us.,” her viral duet with Swift, and the euphoric pop-hit “Close to You.” A song that remained unreleased for over six years, “Close to You” was the perfect upbeat, dance-inducing send-off for the night.
Unlike other pop girls of the era, Abrams has the unique ability to sound nearly identical recorded and live. Even with complex songs like “I miss you, I’m sorry” and “us.,” which interlay voices over each other, Abrams’ navigates these songs live masterfully for someone so early in her career.
She took time during the concert to urge her fans to vote, as many of her young fans will be first-time voters this upcoming November. This comes directly on the heels of Swift endorsing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz directly after the presidential debate on September 10. Abrams also vocalized her support for Planned Parenthood, resulting in wild cheers from the predominantly female audience.
“Our democracy is hanging by a thread. It’s hanging in the balance, and we have to show up and do something about it. I’m really grateful to know that you’re all people that care about government,” she said.
In Abrams’ own words, her show is perfect for “a happy family that likes sad music.” Her ability to foster community through music is rare for someone of her age and so early in her career. As “The Secret of Us” tour goes on, Abrams is bound to put on more memorable, soul-soothing shows across the country. Between moments of laughter or scream-crying, to out-of-your-seat dancing, there is something at this show for everyone - a true mark of an unforgettable artist.