Faye Webster performed for a crowd of mostly Florida State students at the Moon Tallahassee on March 24 following the release of her fourth studio album, “Underdressed at the Symphony.”
Club Downunder (CDU) hosted the event. Tickets were free for Florida State University (FSU) students and $45 for the general public. At the event, attendees could purchase tour merchandise or one of the event-specific posters created by CDU.
Senior Tia Williams, the concert talent buyer for the programming department of CDU, gave insight into the behind-the-scenes work involved in putting on the show.
“A big part of my job is reaching out to agents and inquiring about different artists.” Williams said.
“When working with an outside venue like The Moon I coordinate with Scott Carswell (the owner of The Moon) and place a hold on a specific date. Then on the day of the show, we go to The Moon bright and early and ensure that the event and everything behind the scenes goes smoothly.”
Fans began lining up at the venue as early as 10 a.m., and others followed suit later despite the show starting at 8:30 p.m. Gathered on blankets and under umbrellas, students finished their homework and did activities to pass the time in anticipation.
Some attendees wore white, blue and black to match the cover of her newest album, but the style and color scheme of outfits varied throughout the crowd.
Webster has been in the music industry for about 10 years, having released her first album, “Run and Tell,” at 16 in 2013. She gained a newfound popularity when songs from her earlier albums, such as “Kingston” (which she played as an encore) and “Right Side of My Neck,” rose in popularity through TikTok.
Since then, her stardom has continued as she was recently featured on Rolling Stone magazine’s “Future of Music” cover.
Her albums often include themes of unrequited love and breakups, which made performing songs such as “But Not Kiss” and “Jonny” a cathartic experience for many. These songs were balanced by others, such as “Kind of” and “In a Good Way,” which are more hopeful and enthusiastic love songs.
The show was a special live experience because the audience saw the full scope of Webster’s musicianship. The singer alternated between playing the guitar and keyboard and incorporated autotune on “Feeling Good Today,” which she sang alongside her best friend and guitarist Matt Stoessel.
The lights were flashed on beat with the music, bathing the audience in shades of orange and pink.
The general admission section of the venue was crowded. Due to the vibe of Webster’s music, the atmosphere was never aggressive or overwhelming, making it an especially enjoyable concert experience.
The set design was simple but fostered an environment that felt like a therapeutic relief amongst friends. The Moon, a smaller venue with a more condensed stage, created a very intimate concert experience.
“The Faye concert was so much fun. One of my favorite things about going to FSU is all the cool, free experiences offered. I’ve been listening to her new album every day, so to see her live was so lovely,” said Samantha Cuttle, a senior at FSU.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25434063/Screenshot_2024_05_05_032834.png "Sunday Seminoles Summary: Baseball looks for split,")
