K.Flay outdid herself during her set at Delmar Hall in St. Louis this Friday night, March 21, 2025.
The packed room was almost giddy in anticipation of her time on stage. And they were not disappointed.
But first, L.A.-based artist Vienna Vienna (aka J aka James Barre), donned in a red jumpsuit and possibly a Bowie-inspired minimalist star makeup over one eye, opened for K.Flay with a nearly 30-minute set of what he describes as glimmer rock. This Alt Press interview describes his sound as “uniquely bright light, and his music is charged with tactile, buoyant energy. Boxes be damned, Vienna Vienna revels in his own iteration of alt-rock.” It goes on to say, “The result is a cathartic exercise in self-actualization as much as it is about a literal ‘glimmer’ of light. Vienna Vienna’s sound is melody-forward, built on a foundation of shimmering reverb, electric guitar riffs full of personality, and juicy hooks lathered in witty playfulness, and ultimately, empowerment.” Backed by a bassist and drummer, Vienna2 wowed the crowd with “Sex Drugs Whatever” and “God Save the Queens.”
Flay is known for her dynamic performances typically full of bright white hot strobes. But this time felt different. Still just as dynamic, tonight’s performance brought more shadowy and moody lighting. Her 90-minute, I’m Making Friends With The Silence set began with her image portrayed on a giant screen in the center of the stage, in which she eventually appeared behind the screen, as if trapped behind it and in an illuminated box during the opening song “Bar Soap (softer version).” She eventually freed herself from the box and sang and danced with a projection of herself during “Raw Raw.” She then broke out her guitar and blasted out “The President Has a Sex Tape” while bounding across the stage.
Up next came the catchy, driven “Weirdo,” which has become an anthem for many.
She introduced her rap “Cypher” by saying she was going back to the way she used to do some shows with just her and a beatbox, which this fan captured at an earlier show and posted on YouTube.
She ended the night with the intimate, soft, calm yet frenetic, “Perfectly Alone.”
This tour seems much more personal than previous tours of multi-platinum and 2x GRAMMY-nominee Flay. Being boxed in, the shadows and lights, all harken to her sudden hearing loss in her right ear in 2022 and having to reinvent how she makes music. On Instagram and in a news release Flay stated how the loud music makes the ringing worse, so she reimagined many of her songs to be softer and embrace “the power of less.”
I’m Making Friends With The Silence is Flay’s last tour before receiving a cochlear implant later this spring and all of us at Litehouse Media wish her a speedy and healthy recovery and can’t wait to see what this powerhouse does next.
See more photos of the night here: https://bit.ly/KFlay25cz
In my work life, I help nonprofits and small businesses with media and public relations. In my what I love to do life, you can typically find me photographing either wild horses or concerts.
