Em Beihold Live in Dallas
Photo by Drew Schoenhofer
Em Beihold is an American singer/songwriter and fencing champion, whose claim to fame is layering a poppy, bright melody over gut-wrenching lyrics that leave her listeners raw while simultaneously comforted by the relatability of her writing. I believe for many Em Beihold represents that voice in the back of their minds that thinks all the things Beihold vocalizes in her music - literally. Her November 2nd opening for King Princess (KP) at the Dallas House of Blues was no different.
It seemed a normal Wednesday night when walking toward the venue nestled between the Dallas Design District and Downtown. Excitement radiated from pairs of girls and groups of friends walking huddled together down the warm pavement. Clad in fishnets and cargo pants, these excited fans made their way through the entryway of the House of Blues and down the intricately painted stairs into the venue's heart. Drink counters and bars lined three of the walls, the fourth of which held a surprisingly spacious stage. Blacklights lit white shirts and neon tape as fans stepped into the pit.
The stage was bathed in blue light, and a black and white mural depicting KP facing front and again in profile served as a backdrop. Despite the cool-toned lights, the atmosphere was warm and inviting to all. A wooden stand-up piano stood on a platform between the drums and keyboard rig. A small keyboard lined with tinsel sat center stage waiting for Beihold’s opening act.
Coming out swinging, Beihold started with her 2021 single “Groundhog Day” which, in tune with her brand, discusses the deepest feeling of fear of being behind her peers, especially with the ever-growing influence of social media on young women such as Beihold. “Groundhog Day” spoke to young female TikTok viewers, and grew rapidly through the platform in 2021.
They say audiences will remember the first and last songs best and make their judgments based on that. Beihold’s set ended with her one of her other most popular songs which, like “Groundhog Day” had its moment in the limelight beginning on TikTok, a social media platform in which creators lip sync along to and create content shared through short 15 to 90-second videos. “Numb Little Bug,” a song off her latest album Egg in the Backseat which was released just this year, resonated with young audiences on TikTok and encompassed everything fans love about Beihold’s music - heartbreaking lyrics with a bubbly beat one can’t seem to get out of their heads. At the concert, red and orange hues dominated the stage, furthering the hidden depth in this song and her music at large.
Unfortunately, Em Beihold’s opening set was met by an unenthused audience. Though her excitement to perform was clear and she has created a niche for herself in the music industry, audience members seemed to struggle to connect with her. Her nerves lasted throughout her performance, and even at her most confident moments, there felt to be a disconnect between her and the audience. It was no secret that the crowd had come for KP.
Nevertheless, I went home humming Beihold’s latest hits, and look forward to a future opportunity to see her perform with a little more confidence that will undoubtedly come from continued performance experience.