Kate Bollinger and Faye Webster Live at The Fonda

The first image that came to mind as Bollinger began to sing was that of a naiad - a river nymph (spirit) from ancient Greek mythology. The soft sweetness of her voice blended with the woodsy instrumental just immediately whisked me away from the chaos of The Fonda Theatre and pulled me into a peaceful forest oasis. Her blond, wavy hair even looked like a flowing creek as it reflected the blue of the stage lights.

The first two songs both exuded this energy: watery, dreamy, organic. I even took the time to write down in my notes app that Bollinger’s voice sounded like “if a willow tree could sing.” As her set continued, however, the music became a bit jazzier, more energetic. The entire pit was swaying and grooving along for her entire set. She truly had a serene effect on us all, enchanting us into leaning in closer, falling more madly in love with her voice with every additional note.

After her set came to an end, my friends and I gaped at each other in complete awe. None of us were familiar with Bollinger’s music before that night. But we were obsessed with her from thereafter.

Then, after a solid half-hour of chit-chat and giddy anticipation, Faye Webster herself graced the stage of The Fonda. For an artist that makes laid-back, sixties-inspired folk music, Webster can sure strike up a frenzy in a crowd. All she did was nonchalantly mosey to center stage and the entire theatre went completely feral. I was completely dumbfounded that there were so many other people as obsessed with Faye as I was. I felt more at home than I’d felt at any other show I’d been to so far this year.

She started her set with her song “Better Distractions,” swaying side to side quietly chirping calls of “will you will you, will you will you, will you, will you be with me?” The entire crowd chirped along with her, imitating her iconic nasal voice. I found myself getting completely lost in the music, closing my eyes and just letting the soft electric slide guitar melodies wash over me completely.

This was how the entire first half of the show went. The music would roll over me like an ocean wave, putting my mind and soul completely at ease. I was awoken from my trance-like state by the frantic yells coming from every corner of the theatre as Faye stopped briefly to take a sip of water and tune her guitar. Shouts of “will you be my Valentine?” “You’re so hot!” and the occasional “AHHHHH” reverberated throughout the auditorium. Faye would just chuckle to herself and say the occasional thank you. To the fellow that asked to be her Valentine, however, Faye “politely declined” but also commended him on his looks and said, “maybe another time.”

Little instances like these became more and more frequent as the show moved along. As she was trying to introduce her next song, a cover of the Nintendo Animal Crossing character K.K.Squires’s song “K.K. Crusin’” she noticed a fan taking pictures with their Nintendo 3DS. After taking a beat to laugh, she asked the fan to pass the DS to the stage where she proceeded to take a series of selfies and photos of the crowd. This episode, directly followed by the K.K. Squires, cover added such a refreshing element of quirkiness, a moment of pure humanity that made Webster feel all the more relatable.

The remaining half-hour of the show was just banger after banger after banger. Being a more casual fan of Faye myself, I was surprised at just how many songs I had memorized. It felt like each lyric came from deep within me rather than from the muumuu-wearing indie chick crooning onstage. Coming into the show, I had expected a more simple, relaxed evening. Instead, I was met with a celebration of sorts. People had come from all over to release all their inner worries and emotions in the safety of Faye’s presence. It was almost spiritual in that way. As I walked out of the venue, clad in my freshly purchased I Know I’m Funny HaHa sweatshirt, I genuinely felt like I was floating.