LUVCAT CELEBRATES 100TH SHOW WITH PENULTIMATE NIGHT OF ‘LIPSTICK & PEARLS’ TOUR
EL REY THEATRE — LOS ANGELES, CA
English darling Luvcat brought her LIPSTICK & PEARLS TOUR to Los Angeles on Friday, marking not only the penultimate night of the tour before wrapping things up in San Francisco, but also celebrating 100 shows under her belt. Before the lights even went down, fans filled the venue early, eager to see the artist back in town for the first time since her Los Angeles debut earlier this year at Hollywood Forever Cemetery’s Masonic Lodge. The El Rey is roughly four times the size of the Masonic Lodge, but Luvcat’s ability to pack the venue so soon comes as no surprise considering her overnight success since last summer—a rise that’s since taken her all over the world, from festival stages to her headline tour.
Later in the night, anticipation hit a high when the main title from the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack began to play. Once the stage curtains opened, the band took their places before Luvcat herself emerged like an angel from the dark—literally—stepping onto the stage wearing angel wings and a halo paired with her white corset and pink skirt. This scene was everything that Luvcat has established herself as: charming, romantic, and whimsical. Those of us who had the opportunity to see Luvcat on this run were incredibly lucky; it’s a special thing to experience an artist's entire discography in a single set. With her debut and breakout single “Matador” having only been released last summer, and every release since also appearing on her debut album Vicious Delicious, every fan got to hear their favorite song.
She kicked things off with the interlude “The Kazimier Garden”, an appropriately theatrical greeting to her audience, before diving right into the sultry and mischievous “Lipstick”. “Matador” followed, and the wave of excitement that flowed through the crowd would have served as evidence to anyone who didn’t otherwise know that this is a fan favorite—unsurprising, since it was almost everyone’s introduction to the singer-songwriter last summer after it dominated the TikTok feed of anyone with taste.
One of my favorite moments of the night came when she made her way to the piano to play “Laurie”, a standout moment on the album and likely my personal favorite track off of one of the best album releases of the year. I mean, from tracks like “Spider” and “Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel” to “Blushing” and “Bad Books”, Luvcat delivered not only an incredibly addictive album, but an incredible show as well. “Laurie” is also arguably one of the most emotionally raw tracks, and with its slow tempo and heavy-hearted fragility, the piano ballad silenced the room, bringing the audience into a soft, hushed sing-along as we all swayed together. She lifted the mood, though not as much the tempo, as she stayed on the piano to begin a perfectly dramatic cover of My Chemical Romance’s “Helena”, exposing her appreciation for emo-kid culture and striking nostalgia into the hearts of us all.
Luvcat’s own music is noticeably inspired by tension and romance, with the overall “vibe” conjuring images of smokey bars and cabaret stages with a splash of circus aesthetic—she’s making a name for herself in alternative music with her swoon-y dark pop that leaves a kiss print on your cheek. But don’t let the perfectly curated aesthetics and theatrics fool you; the girl behind the songs has nothing but a beautiful reputation among her fans. She didn’t hesitate to hop off the stage to hold hands at the barricade, singing with audience members before returning to the stage to toss them roses.
It’s not hard to imagine how personal her relationship with her fans must feel at this point in her career, with everything being so new yet moving so quickly. Since first taking off last year, Her whirlwind success proved it was anything but the tale of a one-hit wonder when her second single, “He’s My Man”, surpassed “Matador” in both streams and virality, signaling a rise with no signs of slowing. Luvcat’s incredible success right out of the gate feels like a rare shooting star, and it reminds us why we love music so much. Whether you’re listening or creating, you never know when something will find you or just how far it can take you. Her debut album, Vicious Delicious, is for those with grand, poetic hearts dipped in ink and draped with pearls—a spirit Luvcat’s live shows certainly foster. Luvcat’s performance at the El Rey was electric, and had one of the most engaged crowds I’ve seen this year—an incredible note to end the year on. I, for one, am sincerely looking forward to her return to the States and cannot wait for whatever she does next.
