I discovered Griff when I started looking for women of color in the pop music space. I knew she was magic the moment her music hit my ears and with the performance that I just witnessed in Seattle, she has officially confirmed that she is the embodiment of magic.
Griff’s Vertigo tour found it’s way to the Showbox SoDo in Seattle and I was lucky enough to be in town when it did. In a space that looked right out of my wildest barnyard dreams, surrounded by people of all ages and from all demographics; Griff gave us a great 1.5 hours of cardio and vocals. Even as she sang to “Pillow In My Arms”, “Black Hole” or “Miss Me Too” was it abundantly clear that the mic was ON. The acoustic section of the show provided us with quieter moments “So Fast” and “Everlasting” are already two of my favorites but the intimate performance of each just made them stand out even more.
It’s hard to believe that this tour is coming after her debut album because the level of performance she gave us feels entirely seasoned and lived-in. I spent the entirety of those 1.5 hours in awe of what I was witnessing and grateful that I got to see her before he inevitable breakthrough into mainstream. When I first listened to the album, Vertigo, I remember thinking that so many of the songs would make for excellent live performances. I can admit that my vision isn’t quite as perfected as Griff’s because my daydreaming didn’t come close to the arrangements that she came up with. Accompanied by a two person band, playing her own instruments and looping her vocals live, Griff created an entire musical experience up on that stage.
Griff is a walking contradiction, which just adds to the allure. She walks on stage like a dainty fairy but slowly she unleashes a level a talent that even the biggest fan would be unprepared for. Her vocals can be quiet, begging you to be drawn into them or she can roar from the deepest depths of her gut; either way eliciting emotion from any person who may be in attendance at her show. It took her about .5 seconds to gain the audience’s attention when she got in that stage and they didn’t lose focus the entire time. Whether she’s belting the angriest of songs, softly singing the saddest of songs or dancing across the stage; rare was the time that my eyes left her.
The emotions she elicits are so strong that I found myself crying towards the end of the show. I know few of you are shocked to hear that fact but there is just something so special about witnessing someone do something they were absolutely born to do. It’s enough to overwhelm you with joy, which is exactly what happened to me. You would be doing yourself the biggest of favors by attending one of her shows, she is currently still on tour and I highly encourage you to look up whether she’s coming to a city near you.
