Live: Annie DiRusso Takes “God, I Love This Tour” to BK
I first saw Annie DiRusso in 2021, when she opened for Sara Kays. The up-and-coming indie musician was new to the scene but put on a show that made me remember her. Since then, DiRusso has toured with names like Declan McKenna, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and HAIM. Now, the singer has embarked on her own headlining tour, “God, I Love This Tour."
The tour was aptly named to celebrate the release of her February EP “God, I Hate This Place,” which explores the act of growing up. Over the years, the indie star has gained a supportive following of people eager to see her succeed. At a sold-out show at Music Hall of Williamsburg, the same stage where she opened for Declan McKenna last year, many fans weren’t seeing DiRusso for the first time.
The excitement in the venue was palpable as fans were excited to see DiRusso. Cheers went up when the band took the stage wearing matching dresses and grins. Set up to represent DiRusso’s bedroom, the stage had a tapestry in the back bearing her name, as well as an actual bed, lamp, bookshelf, and even trampoline that allowed the band to bounce around while playing.
The set design created a warm, intimate atmosphere that was perfect for bringing the songs to life with many of DiRusso’s songs referencing her room, in the present and childhood sense.
“My parents raised a happy child/ In the house at the bottom of Emerson/Now every time I go home/ All I do is sleep/ I don’t know what kind of twisted hold/ My childhood bedroom has on me” DiRusso sings on “Emerson,” the opening single of both the EP and show. The crowd burst with excitement and energy that paralleled what the band brought onstage.
DiRusso's sound reflects a mix of rock guitars with a pop flair and intimate lyrics. Upbeat songs like “Don’t Swerve” capture people with their energetic hooks, while slower rockers like “Infinite Jest” and "Jonathan" create an appreciation for the melodies and intimate lyrics that DiRusso sings.
Chatting between songs, DiRusso breaks the fourth wall and lets the audience in. Whether it’s a sad but funny anecdote about her dog dying to introduce “Dead Dogs” or explaining the origins of her EP before “Frisco Forever,” DiRusso consistently creates a warm and inviting atmosphere for all.
Not afraid to get personal, DiRusso explains that the “most emotional” song she wrote was “Body,” where she condemns wanting to change for anybody. She notes that she didn’t listen to it for almost a year after writing it and when she did, it “hurt, but in a good way.” With encouragement from her band and manager, the singer decided to release the song.
Good thing she did because you could see from the crowd how much the song meant to them. Two girls stood by the barricade and sang every word with their hearts.
The understanding reception from fans is the warm embrace that DiRusso’s songs deserve, and the sentiment continued throughout the continuing setlist “Hybrid,” “Infinite Jest”, and “Nine Months.”
Gushing “thank yous” before leaving the stage, DiRusso and her band thanked the crowd for coming before heading off. Cheers of “encore” filled the venue and the band quickly returned to perform “Call It All Off,” a single from last year, and “Coming Soon” a crowd-pleaser that has a choreographed dance routine that doubled the band’s charm. Throwing their all into the performance, the band collapsed on stage in a final dramatic plight as the lights went dark in DiRusso’s bedroom.