Alternative indie band Model/Actriz brought their explosive mix of post-punk and noise rock music to Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco. Their tour kicked off in full force with this eveningβs showβthe first show since releasing their newest album Pirouette and since their smash debut at Cruel World last year. The tour will continue across the US and Europe from now through this fall. Fans already had the lyrics memorized and came to the show ready to dance the night away.
As concertgoers filtered into Rickshaw Stop, the room pulsed with chill house music. Many began to sway and dance as they waited. One fan joked about the mellow vibe being an odd choice before such a high-energy performance, only to conclude with new friends that perhaps the night had to start low to end highβa prediction that proved true once the flashing lights and fog machines took over. Many fans met the band members at the merch booth before the show began. They chatted with their friends about feeling nervous to meet the band, but then realized how down-to-earth they are.
Dove Armitage started off the evening with familiar songs and unreleased songs alike. Playing a v-shaped bass and keyboard and singing while she floated across the stage, her solo performance included songs from her 2023 EP Concernless such as βBrittleβ and βGlass in Me.β The energy she brought to the stage was astounding! Afterwards, she graciously met fans.
Dove Armitage is Quincy Larsen, who was in Charli XCXβs music video Guess featuring Billie Eilish. Armitage has been releasing her own music as singles and EPs since 2020. Weβre looking forward to hearing more from her soon!
The energy in the room skyrocketed as Model/Actriz took the stage. The band consists of lead vocalist Cole Haden, guitarist Jack Wetmore, bassist Aaron Shapiro, and drummer Ruben Radlauer. The band played music from their new album including βVespersβ and βCinderellaβ as well as some of their older songs such as βPure Modeβ and βCrossing Guardβ from their 2023 album Dogsbody. During their performance, Haden was able to backbend while singing, much to the crowdβs thrill as they screamed, clapped and cheered for him. He also got personal with the crowd by jumping down into the mosh pit during a few songs. The crowd held up his microphone cord above everyoneβs heads so it wouldnβt get lost or trampled. While on stage, Haden often reached out towards the audience and held hands with fans towards the front of the crowd, breaking the barrier between artist and audience.
It would be impossible to bottle up the explosive energy of the evening. The experience was all about the sound and dance. It felt like a fever dream. The type of music youβd close your eyes and dance to with headphones onβ¦or maybe the music you would shop to at your local Hot Topic. It was dance. It was chaos. It was catharsis.
As the evening began to wrap up, Haden left the crowd feeling empowered, seen and valued as he gave the crowd a few encouraging messages including ββ¦Trans lives are human livesβ and βFree Palestine.β He and the band as a whole stand by marginalized communities. The crowd cheered and clapped in their support. This band isnβt just about soundβtheyβre about solidarity, presence, and community. This recognition that we are all simply human creates the welcoming and inclusive environment that keeps fans coming back for more.
