Thalia Hall was the place to be on Saturday, March 18. The Pilsen venue was packed with fans ready to dance the night away with Kelela, whose flawless new album RAVEN dropped last month. It was a completely sold-out show, but that didn’t stop countless people from flocking to the box office to see if they could get their hands on one last in-demand ticket.
“This actually is a dance party,” Kelela said mid-set as fans moved along with every beat. With a tour called the RAVE:N Tour, of course people were ready to dance the night away in their sparkly day-glow best.
The evening’s opener, Miami-based DJ Total Freedom, created a club atmosphere instantly, sharing patiently curated party music with beats that continued to build with each track. By the time Kelela took the bare stage and filled it with her beautiful voice, the crowd was warmed-up and ready for a joyful night of singing along to vulnerable – and relatable – electronic R&B washed in jazzy undertones.
Kelela began her set the same way she began RAVEN, with the ethereal and interpretive, “Washed Away.” Additional songs from the new album – including “Happy Ending” and “On the Run” – were highlighted throughout the night as were throwbacks like “Bluff” and “Bank Head.”
Check out photos from Kelela’s Saturday night performance at Thalia Hall below and click here to pick-up tickets to future tour dates. More information can be found at Kelela.co.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
