I haven’t been to as many concerts this year as I would have liked since venues opened up again, so it’s obvious I don’t have a large sample size to reference when it comes to some of my observations. But like the previous show I attended, I have to commend the atmosphere and enthusiasm from the crowd, a sense of joyousness and respect that was had not just for Snail Mail, but for all three bands on the bill. Such was the experience this past Friday night here in Providence, Rhode Island at the always reliable Fete Music Hall, where Snail Mail kicked off this long-delayed leg of their North American tour after Lindsey Jordan required vocal surgery the previous year.  

You could feel just how infectious the energy was the second Lindsey Jordan and co. came onto the stage and immediately kicked things into high gear with “Heat Wave.” Every fan present chanted along during the entirety of the five-minute cut. She continued down this path of starting things off on a mellow note with “Speaking Terms” and Valentine-cut “Headlock” before the show chartered into territory both intimate & soulful and fuzzy & garage rocky. And for intimate and soulful, see her performance of “Valentine,” marked by half of it being done acoustically before performing it as it sounds on the album.

There was also plenty of showmanship to be found at the gig alongside quality song performance after quality song performance. Whether it was introducing her band and doing a double fake-out of re-introducing herself as Soccer Mommy and then Clairo, or delivering a fun, engaging cover of Muse’s “Starlight”—which it seems she has been breaking out in subsequent tour stops, as well as covers of other songs from what Setlist.fm has been reporting—it was easy to ascertain from the energy in the room and fans’ rousing voices joining together as one throughout the night that Snail Mail delivered on every front having to do with music and entertainment.

And thankfully, the love was not just reserved for Snail Mail, but for opening bands Hotline TNT and Momma as well. Snail Mail shouted out her love and appreciation for them midway through her set, admiration that the crowd had in common as was vocalized through their cheers and whoops. Hotline TNT was the first band to take the stage, playing to the crowd a bevy of dreampop and shoegaze-laced indie rock, and you wouldn’t at all be mistaken in your assumption that the crowd that night was every bit as present for Hotline TNT as they were for Snail Mail, based on their level of engagement towards the four-piece group. Second band Momma received an equal share of the love for their fuzzy, dreampop-infused garage rock sound

What more could be said? It was simply a delight to see Snail Mail return to the stage. Alongside her captivating lyricism, she’s a bonafide performer. Getting to see her combine both skills up on the stage, it’s no wonder people not only showed up for her first gig back, but were also present from beginning to end, from the first note to the last, from the first hello to the last gentle wave before coming offstage.

Check out our gallery from the show below.