REVIEW: Maude Latour 10/18/22

I've been listening to too much Sad Girl Music lately, so I jumped at the chance to see rising pop princess Maude Latour at the El Rey Theatre. With lyrics more honest than the average TikTok-driven indie artist, her sound is something special.

Charlie Hickey opened the show, and he’s been a mainstay on my crying playlist lately. After all, he’s signed to Saddest Factory Records. While Latour is more comparable sonically to Hickey’s labelmates MUNA and Claud, the pairing somehow worked. A hometown show for the Pasadena native, the room was already filled before his set. Hickey already has a mastery of the human language, with a lyrical ability beyond his 22 years. A bassist and drummer rounded out his band. This rhythm section definitely helped keep the crowd engaged, making the intimate acoustic tracks punchier in a live setting. A highlight was his subversively brilliant rendition of “hangar'' by 8485. 

I wasn’t totally sure what to expect out of Latour’s live set, but I walked away impressed. She hit every note with her bedazzled mic. Her tracks pay homage to the trials and tribulations of growing up. Love, loss, and friendship are all fair game. Every song is danceable, even ones that tackle real-world issues. She dedicated “Lola,” her very own sexual awakening anthem, to women and queer people. As much as I loved Latour’s performance, I had arguably more fun watching the crowd. Teens in glittery eyeshadow and feather boas were laughing, crying, and singing all the words. During “One More Weekend,” the room became a sea of multicolored paper hearts. The fan-organized project moved her to tears.

Even though she hasn't been around for long, Latour is building a truly meaningful fanbase. My favorite moment of the show came during the encore, when she experienced technical difficulties during “Block Your Number.” Latour seamlessly removed her in-ears and kept dancing, truly singing along with her supporters to end the night.

-Madeline Frino