Through tears, laughs, and sighs of pure awe, whilst prancing and crawling across the stage, Ashe exemplifies the modern rockstar on the rise.
by Brianna Kline
Ashe at Summit Music Hall
Courtesy of Jen Kline
Ashlyn Willson, more commonly known to the world as Ashe, has been trekking across the North American continent, establishing herself as a woman to be reckoned with. With the influence of musical icons Carole King, Stevie Nicks, Diane Keaton, and Brian Wilson as inspiration under her belt, Ashe has taken the leap and experienced a quick rise to experiencing what so many people can only dream of tasting.
With the drop of her album Ashlyn in May 2021, and several smaller projects dropped sporadically prior, fans of the singer have been awaiting a solo tour, and she did not disappoint. Alongside album tracks like the beloved single ‘Moral of the Story’ and tracks such as ‘Taylor’ and ‘Love is Not Enough,’ she sang unreleased tracks and paid homage to legendary band Queen with a breathtaking display of ‘Somebody to Love.' The night was filled with tears and cleansing screams of pure adoration and release.
In short, the whole of the night could be described as therapeutic. Whether dealing with the loss of a loved one, a breakup, the aftermath of the pandemic, life in general, or the journey of self-discovery, the Fault Line tour allowed individuals of all walks of life to come together to share an experience for the ages.
Ashe at Summit Music Hall
Courtesy of Jen Kline
To set the scene: you’re standing outside Summit Music Hall in Denver, Colorado- it’s the last night of the North American tour, Ashe’s first headlining tour. There is a bittersweet tinge to the air mingled with an aura of excited apprehension around the set of the stage. Chalk drawings line the sidewalk outside saying “We love you Ashe” and a subtle nod to Harry Styles lingers with the words “Treat People With Kindness” written in block letters, alongside doodles of butterflies and flowers. Compliments are soaring between groups of fans, as they pose in front of the tour bus and the marquee. After waiting outside the venue for several hours with eager hopes of being as close to the front as possible, the line begins to move. Once inside a crowd adorned in leather, pastels, and touches of glitter gather smushing as close to the stage as possible. Nervous chatter builds in anticipation, and after the opening act of The Brook and the Bluff who performed an equally energetic and entertaining set filled with groovy dances and the flirtatious locking of eyes with individuals in the crowd. The show begins. Drumbeats slam and pound in time with shaking hearts, a quiet murmur of keen nerves settles amongst the crowd, as red lights flash into a burst of white. Then, out appears Ashe, silhouetted beneath an arch, and she starts the show with, ‘Me Without You,’ followed by a Doo-Wop-inspired version of ‘I’m Fine’ during which she brought the opening act out for. Then followed up by a tune that could be considered an ode to 2020 or any failed relationship or situation - ‘Save Myself.’
Cathartic is the word I would use to describe the mid portion of the concert. As she covered Miley Cyrus’ ‘The Climb’ and followed it with ‘Not Mad Anymore,’ proving Ashe might just be a genius when it comes to the order of her set list as every song flowed perfectly into the other. Not once was there a dull moment. Even with breaks for emotional tunes such as ‘Taylor’ and ‘When I’m Older’- ‘When I’m Older’ features a projection of images and videos from Ashe’s childhood referencing the youth and innocence of her childhood as indicated within the lyrics of the second verse of the heartfelt and endearing song.
Ashe at Summit Music Hall
Courtesy of Jen Kline
The standout moment of the show was the second half of the set, during which Ashe played two unreleased songs, and Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love,’ and even danced around the stage in a cow print cowgirl hat while hitting every sustained note. Which would make anyone note her timelessness. Off the back of the vocally charged, attitude-fueled set, which was filled with pure lust, sex, and rightfully placed anger, came the song of the night ‘Always,’ which Ashe went into after expressing how even if a love doesn’t last forever, it's better to have known love than to not have, and for that she is grateful.
By the final song ‘Moral of the Story,’ Ashe gave the crowd of screaming, smiling, tearful fans a show of raw confidence and soul. With a blinged-out denim vest and flares, she proved that the moral of her story is that nothing is going to stop her. Not a divorce or a worldwide pandemic can get her down. She is here to make her mark as a rising Californian singer-songwriter who just might be the new modern female rockstar and role model of the age.
Ashe Fault Line Tour Setlist:
“Me Without You”
“I’m Fine”
“Kansas”
“Someone to Lose”
“Save Myself”
“The Climb” - Miley Cyrus
“Not Mad Anymore”
“Love is Not Enough”
“Taylor”
“When I’m Older”
“Another Man’s Jeans”
“Somebody to Love”
“Hope You’re Not Happy” (unreleased at the time of the show)
“Angry Woman” (unreleased at the time of the show)
“Always”
“Til Forever Falls Apart”
“Moral of the Story”
Comentarios