gigi Live at The Wiltern

Photo by Max Christiansen

Walking into The Wiltern on November 4, 2022 to see gigi and Noah Cyrus felt like going to a friend’s house; given how many times I’ve come to see artists and speakers performing for an audience, it’s quickly become one of my favorite concert venues in downtown LA. The impressive bar set-up with (admittedly overpriced) popcorn and drinks, the balcony seating, and even the space for general admission ticket holders make for amazing experiences I still treasure. 

But without a doubt, the most enjoyable concerts for me are the ones where I’ve never heard of the artist or their music, to listen to their performance with an open mind and unbiased ears. While I’d heard of gigi before, I’d never heard her sing live, which made her opening thirty-minute set that much more stunning and beautiful to listen to. 

Of course, where I was situated prevented me from seeing much off the stage without strategically placing my eyeline between people’s shoulders. But it was almost like I didn’t need to see gigi to enjoy what she brought to the stage. 

Her voice took up a presence in the venue alone, with her (what I now know to be) signature belt, vibrato, strength, and raw vulnerability, all while sitting down on a stool with her guitar on stage. When she belted, it was never without control, effortlessly filling the whole room. It actually reminded me a bit of how Florence Welch from Florence + The Machine sings on her records, belting with an ethereal and gorgeous touch that simply cannot be taught. Overall, there was just this unexplainable cadence and lilt to gigi’s voice that felt special and true to her, classic and timeless and haunting like she was singing to me to lure me to the woods. The kind that I could easily see becoming beloved even decades from now. 

Her set list consisted of guitar-backed ballads, both released and unreleased. Two of my favorites included the unreleased tracks “Karma” and “Chemistry,” both of which featured her trademark belt to take otherwise slow tracks to the next level. I especially enjoyed how she often incorporated a saxophone into the mix as well, reminiscent of Lizzo live performing with her flute to show off her years as a classically trained musician. With gigi, the sax brought that much more individuality to her set, functioning as an accompaniment to the bridges of her songs as both a complement and elevation to the song. 

While she didn’t interact with the audience that much, there was a funny moment before performing one of her songs where she said, “You like ‘Karma’? So you’re gay? That’s cool, me too!” Personally, I will never shy away from a gay moment normalizing a queer musician on-stage, especially when I grew up not knowing all that many.

Besides gigi and her unforgettable voice and craft as a musician, I will also never forget the easy comradery that the night created between us concert goers. When I arrived and left, the venue was packed from wall to wall, with the earliest to arrive holding the best seats in the house. But before the show even started, a girl who was just as short as me came up and just started chatting, empathasizing with our shared struggle of not being able to see the stage from the lower levels. Then later, seeing me struggle to capture photo and video,someone standing next to me offered their tall boyfriend as a stand-in to take videos and photos for me. It was nice to see that as competitive as concert placements can be, there was a still a level of care and decency for one another. 

Going home, I found myself wanting to listen to gigi’s music for the first time, even if I wouldn’t be able to reply her unofficial stuff. I was left excited to follow the journey of her career, hear what she’s released so far, and return with her voice to the woods again.