Fresh off her latest album, indie-pop singer-songwriter Samia’s Bloodless tour has begun. The record, her third, is a raw and tender addition to her discography, and it had only been performed a handful of times before the band made their return to Boston. The headlining show on May 21st at House of Blues was Samia’s first Boston show in two years.
Bloodless, as well as Samia’s other works, is particularly strong in its lyricism; Samia’s vocals are at the forefront of the recordings. However, when performed live with the full band, the instrumentals further amplify their lyrical impact. Many songs, including fan-favorite “Is There Something In The Movies,” even have special outros exclusive to their live performances. Samia and her talented band’s live performances include several other special aspects, including dance moves only able to be described as charming and cheekily provocative. Despite a lack of interaction with their audience compared to other artists, it is clear that Samia’s fans are entirely devoted and appreciative of the performance. Typically, the interactions between Samia and the crowd are unspoken. Samia looks off into a sea of adoring fans screaming and cheering for her, and she nods to them with tears in her eyes and an enormous smile.
The set, although short and sweet, is detailed in its production and its tailored setlist. Samia’s outfit included a pair of platform Doc Martens and a bright red tank top with Levi’s jorts (a potential nod to a track off Bloodless titled “Fair Game” [“Wanna see what’s underneath these Levi’s?/I got nothin’ under these Levi’s”]). Also, peeking beneath those Levi’s were a pair of bikini bottoms with the strings hanging out. Her bandmates walked onstage with wine glasses in hand, and Samia sat in a beach chair during parts of their performance. It seemed as though in order to perform hard-hitting, deeply emotional tracks with complex instrumental backing, the band needed a more laid-back setting in the background. The understated yet clearly intentional lighting design (diffused and moody) complimented Samia’s angelic vocals. The band played a mix of fan-favorite oldies (even closing with the title track of Samia’s previous album, Honey), as well as introducing live versions of nearly every song on the newest record.
The Bloodless Tour will continue throughout the United States over the summertime, and Samia’s doting fans everywhere who are lucky enough to check out the tour will undoubtedly have an incredible experience.
Check out some photos from Hannah below!
