Molly Grace — Princess of Disco Pop, Live at the Atlantis
- Allyson Park
- Mar 28
- 2 min read
Molly Grace is here to claim the title of the lesbian pop princess. The Boston-born musician took the stage at the Atlantis in Washington, D.C. on March 1 for her But I’m A Popstar! tour. With a wide smile and infectious energy, Molly deftly captivated the audience with her catchy pop hits, clever and suggestive lyricism, and impressively powerful vocals.
Before I dive into the concert review, allow me to take a moment and say Molly curates the absolute best pre-show playlist ever. The sold-out 450-person venue buzzes with energy, bursting into song and dance as gay anthem after gay anthem plays, from Chappell Roan to Lady Gaga and everything in between. (As the whole crowd does the HOT-TO-GO! dance, the girl next to me laughs and says to her girlfriend jokingly, ‘God, I hate gay people.’)
Claire Ernst, a Nashville-based, New Jersey-born artist, opens the night with a vibrant set. With a fun disco-pop sound and whimsical lyricism, she enthralls the audience armed with a keyboard and accompanied by her bassist, playing some of her most recent releases, like ‘Me at the Moment’ and ‘Girl in the Bathroom,’ as well as unreleased songs from her upcoming debut album, ‘Oh, Hello!’ Ernst’s performance is one of the best I’ve ever seen from an opener, and she receives enthusiastic applause and cheering from the audience before disappearing backstage.
Abruptly, the lights go down, and amidst cheers, Molly appears onstage in a sparkly blue dress and white go-go boots, glowing with the air of a pop princess. Beaming and waving, she grabs the mic and kicks off the night with ‘Let Me,’ an unreleased, upbeat pop track, before exploring her enticingly creative discography.
The setlist, comprised mostly of Molly’s new releases with some deep cuts from her older EPs, is an energetic and carefully curated mix of upbeat dance songs celebrating women who love women, embracing femininity as a lesbian, and the feeling of freedom in expression. Molly’s stage presence is staggeringly impressive for a young artist, dazzling her audience with her astounding vocals, and dancing around in her sparkly blue dress and white go-go boots; a princess from top to bottom.
In her hour-long set, Molly skillfully explores themes of unashamed queerness in ‘Lady Lady,’ defying lesbian stereotypes in ‘F.E.M.M.E,’ being in love in ‘Lovesick,’ and missed meet-cute opportunities in ‘What If I (The Grocery Store Song.)’ Her diverse discography incorporates disco and funk influences with bubblegum pop in an infectious, energetic blend of the three genres.
Molly Grace truly sparkles onstage. Her warmly infectious energy, pure joy, and beautifully authentic personality fully immerse the audience into her world, a world that’s, to put it simply, fabulous, enticing, magnetic, magical everything. Whether she’s busting out dance moves on stage or killing an insane vocal riff, you can be sure Molly Grace is having fun, and that’s part of her magnetism; queer joy is intoxicating, and once you get a taste of Molly Grace, you’ll be hooked.
Listen to Molly Grace’s newest single, ‘Mad at Her Forever,’ here. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
WORDS ALLYSON PARK
Comments