MADDIE ZHAM AT 9:30 CLUB
BY LIZ BAUMMEROn one of the nicest weather days DC has seen so far this year, fans lined up down the block to see Maddie Zahm with opener Leanna Firestone at 9:30 Club. Despite being a non-sold out show (which was a surprise in and of itself), this was the longest I have ever seen the queue for a show; however nobody, including myself, seemed to mind. While waiting, two girls in line in front of me, included me in their lively conversation about music, outfit details, the queer community, and the experience of being raised in a religious household. Come to find out, the two girls (whom I had assumed were lifelong friends), had simply meant the hour before while eating dinner in the local area before the show. These two individuals (as well as one other experience I will touch on later) perfectly describe the overall vibes of Maddie Zahm’s fanbase. Kind, welcoming, and fun are the perfect words to describe the fans and thus the atmosphere inside the venue.
Before Zahm took the stage, Leanna Firestone came out to warm the crowd up. With a similar style in music to Zahm, she was a great choice for setting the energy and mood for the rest of the evening. Firestone’s set was filled with good music and witty banter. At several points in the set, she had the audience (and the photographers in the pit) laughing. Firestone played a number of hits including her iconic song, Strawberry Mentos, which currently has over 12 million streams on Spotify. Firestone will be on tour with Zahm for the entire tour so if you score tickets make sure to get there early to catch a glimpse of Firestone’s music talents.
After Firestone’s set, there was a brief pause to set the stage for Zahm. One of my favorite moments happened in this lull. The venue was obviously playing music as the crowd enjoyed themselves. In the middle of my conversation with a fellow photographer, I faintly heard in the background a song that I love dearly playing and then I realized the crowd was singing along. There is something about listening to a room filled with mostly queer women sing Fast Car by Tracy Chapman that alters your brain chemistry and brings tears to your eyes. I have never felt so seen in a crowd of people than at this Maddie Zahm concert.
After the best moment I have ever experienced between sets, Maddie Zahm took the stage to rapturous applause from the whole room, and Zahm deserves every single bit of the hype. I cannot say enough good things about Zahm’s music. The first time I heard it, admittedly through TikTok, her music fixed something in me that I didn’t even know was broken. I have been waiting and waiting to catch her on tour ever since that moment, and the night lived up to all of my expectations. Zahm is without a doubt a phenomenal performer. Her vocals live, in my opinion, manage to somehow exceed her already impressive recorded vocals. Her stage presence as she paced back and forth along the front of the stage captivated the entire room. There’s something special about witnessing an artist whose vocal prowess and stage presence combine to achieve the highest level of live performance.
Zahm performed so many of my favorite songs including Eightball Girl, Pick Up The Phone, and Fat Funny Friend. I also recorded the entirety of STEP ON ME on my phone and then watched it at least 4 times that evening after the show. She closed out the show with what I consider one of her most special songs (which also has strong personal significance for me), You Might Not Like Her. I cannot recommend enough catching Maddie Zahm’s tour which runs through the end of May. Prepare to be touched and prepare to be changed if you do go. I can confirm that I have not been the same since in the best possible way.
