Photos and article by Rebecca Shaid

The night of October 29th was met with the spooky rumblings of Halloween’s approach and a packed crowd, all in costumes, patiently waiting for Faye Webster to grace the stage of Riviera Hall. When Webster finally walked out in a baggy short-sleeve suit layered over another baggy long-sleeve suit, the youthful high-pitched screams of the audience were sure to reach the ears of passers-by outside. Webster started the chord progression for her opener, “But Not Kiss.” Seamlessly following abrupt song transitions, standing gracefully at her microphone one moment and slamming her guitar around stage the next, Webster made it clear right from the start that this concert would be packed with the artists’ deepest cuts, realized and performed to their fullest.

As Webster continued with some of her most popular songs, “Better Distractions,” “Kind of,” and “Right Side of My Neck,” the energy in the concert hall never wavered. Time was suspended as the crowd hung onto every word coming out of Webster’s mouth, and half the set had passed in what felt like minutes. Webster, the 26-year-old indie musician with four studio albums under her belt, is a seasoned performer. That night, she never missed a beat, progressing through her set with ease and fluidity. Webster’s soft vocals invited the crowd closer, and in subtle moments between songs, when she’d make a remark about her brother or a particular lyric, I felt transported out of the elegant 2,500 person concert hall and into an intimate party setting. Webster was telling us something personal, and everyone who bought a ticket was lucky enough to hear it.

A personal highlight of the night was when Webster sang “I know I’m Funny haha,” the title track on her most recent album. Webster told us about a time when her partner’s sister complimented her sense of humor. Faye’s internal response to this moment (which ultimately became the title of “I know I’m funny haha) speaks to the strengths of her personality and her relatable presence as a performer. Maybe it’s that her fans appreciate her sarcastic nature and brazen honesty. Whatever it is it’s enough for lines of people to wait for a tote bag with this line on it, and during the show, to collectively scream “haha” without ever needing a queue.

While Webster spent much of the show on her 2021 album, I Know I’m Funny haha, she sprinkled in some of the best tracks from Atlanta Millionaires Club, such as my personal favorite, “Jonny.” She shared singles, like her latest release, “Lifetime,” as well as some unreleased music which captured the attention of the crowd. People had conversations with each other from across the venue, begging Webster for more and expressing their the joy of being able to see her that night. Finally,Webster announced she’d be singing her last song. When she first sang the opening words, “the day that I met you / I started dreaming,” her voice sounded like a kind of divine offering. As the thousands of fans exited the venue, there was a palpable sense of joy, community, and gratification. Faye Webster shared with us an absolutely unforgettable performance.