MARIS AND CAROLINE KINGSBURY GIVE LOS ANGELES A TOUR FINALE FILLED WITH ASTRONOMIC LEVELS OF JOY
ECHOPLEX — LOS ANGELES, CA
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, Maris and Caroline Kingsbury stopped in Los Angeles to put on their final GIVE ME A TOUR show at the Echoplex. For two artists, both on their first headlining tour, they transformed the venue into a celebration of identity, community, and a love for dance.
The co-headliners stopped at nothing to give their fans an immersive experience from the moment doors opened. Rather than have a traditional opener, they immediately created a playful atmosphere by hosting karaoke on the stage, which prompted everyone to sing along to their favorite songs. As karaoke came to a close, a campy fantasy narration introduced the crowd to the lesbian alien and bisexual astronaut ready to capture their attention for the night. Maris and Kingsbury welcomed the audience together by opening the show with their song “Give Me A Sign.” The joint project perfectly encapsulates where the artists’ sounds blend in powerful pop ballads with 80s synth instrumental backings.
Caroline kept the energy flowing with the title track off of her debut album Heaven’s Just A Flight, followed by two more high-energy songs from the same album. Maris started off her set with her singles “The Fight,” “Crashland,” and “Was It A Dream?” which all explore the topic of failed relationships. Throughout the night, the two performers would alternate by each having moments playing a handful of solo songs before comedically handing over the stage. Besides their prominent humor displayed between songs, the stories behind each track often took control of the venue’s atmosphere. When Maris performed “Chameleon,” the room filled with hundreds of flashlights for the vulnerable track about her insecurities when she first moved to Los Angeles. Following the performance, Maris made sure that the whole crowd followed her lead in screaming out a heartwarming yet comedic affirmation, stating, “I love you just the way you fucking are bitch.” That and the formation of what she lovingly titled a “mush pit,” that Maris herself joined multiple times throughout the night, brought an intimacy to the show that not many other artists make an effort to do.
Caroline also made a point to show appreciation to her fans and, in particular, the prominent queer community in the audience. She said, “Sometimes playing to Los Angeles is like playing to cardboard,” but it was clear that this audience was something special. Kingsbury then took us through the most diverse array of song selections in her setlist for the night. Queer yearning was at an all-time high in her dreamy 2022 single “Strawberry Sheets,” followed by the short, impactful final track of her debut album, “Funeral,” and the slower piano ballad “Pain and Pleasure” off of her latest EP Shock Treatment, a beautiful homage dedicated to her late brother, Kyle. The EP’s title track then brought back the playful energy; however, the emotional depth and range in this section showed off Kingsbury’s versatility and artistry beautifully.
Maris then joined Caroline on the stage once again and asked the audience if they could kiki. They talked about how their collaboration on “Give Me A Sign” came to be, with the two messaging each other on Instagram, and Maris stating she needed an “iconic queer vocalist” for the second verse of the already written song. They spoke of the importance of queer pop and transitioned into a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”. With Kingsbury on the guitar, Maris often held her mic out to the audience, who loudly sang back the words while smiles plastered everyone’s faces.
With the final slow ballad of the night, Maris performed “Goodbye Forever” on top of the venue’s bar with an acoustic guitar she bought at a pawn shop at 16. The most respectful silence swept through the crowd as the audience’s full attention was placed on the raw vocals Maris delivered. The difference in Caroline and Maris’ discographies made for an interesting balance between the overlapping narratives and distinct hit singles they respectively performed. Finishing out their solo performances, Kingsbury acknowledged her hit “Kissing Someone Else” and the impact its virality had on her being able to pursue music full-time and quit waitressing. Maris performed the summery pop sing-along “Salt Water Taffy” to close out her solo setlist.
The night came to an end in the same manner it began, the co-headliners shared the stage for another performance of “Give Me A Sign”. It was palpable how the energy in the room shifted between the two performances of the same song, with the crowd finally ready to give it their all. Whether an alien, a nun, or a superstar, Maris and Caroline Kingsbury put on the sapphic pop show of everyone’s dreams with a once-in-a-lifetime tour that stands as a testament to their bold identities and rising pop stardom.
