MARIS + Caroline Kingsbury
Give Me A Tour Review
October 3, 2025
The Chop Shop, Chicago
Shot by Kelsie Barlow
In the Wicker Park neighborhood of Chicago, many fans gathered at the Chop Shop to see the debut co-headline tour of MARIS and Caroline Kingsbury. Earlier this year, MARIS released the single βGive Me A Signβ featuring Caroline Kingsbury, and it quickly went viral and became a hit, earning both artists tons of new fans. While recording this song, before it became popular, the two artists planned this co-headline tour, and it was just the cherry on top that the song blew up prior. Chicago was the 14th stop on Give Me A Tour, and the energy was out of this worldβ¦ literally!
Walking into the venue, fans were able to grab a bite to eat upstairs, shop the merch table, order a drink, and settle in. This show was very unique in the sense that, since both artists were headlining, they opted out of having an opening band and allowed fans to sign up for and sing karaoke instead. Many fans sang songs by other Queer artists like Chappell Roan, and three fans even went up and sang βGive Me A Signβ. MARIS and Kingsbury heard this from backstage and came out onstage to join the fans in singing and dancing along to their song. That was such a fun surprise for everyone in the audience, and it gave us all a taste of the energy and excitement we would experience in the next hour.
Following karaoke and a small break to regroup the stage, the lights dimmed and the show started. MARIS and Caroline Kingsbury entered the stage with slow-motion runs and dance moves. The audio narration playing set the stage for a space-themed show where Maris is an astronaut, Kingsbury is an alien, and together they are an unstoppable duo who were about to give us 2 hours of sapphic synth-pop magic. After settling onto the stage, they officially kicked off the set with their joint song βGive Me A Signβ. Everyone in the room knew the lyrics, and the performance set the tone for an energetic and cathartic show. Following βGive Me A Signβ, MARIS exited the stage and Caroline stayed on to play some of her songs including βHeavenβs Just A Flight" and 16.
Throughout the show MARIS and Carole Kinsbury would switch places and take turns playing songs. MARIS played many stand-outs from her discography including βMary + Iβ, βThe Fightβ, and βJulia Robertsβ. When Caroline Kingsbury played βTake My Phone Awayβ, she started with a creative into where she picked up a 1980s phone, and asked the person on the other end if they were really going to take her phone away. In the middle of the show, both artists came on stage again and played an acoustic cover of βPink Pony Clubβ which was a hit with the crowd. One thing that I thought was really special about this show is how both artists were so vulnerable with the audience. Kingsbury played a song about her journey with grief and how her brother passed away from a brain tumor in 2019. Before playing βITβS HARD (to be a man)β, Maris shared that she was a sex worker for a brief period of time, and that this song is about all of the things she would hear from men online at the time. One thing that makes music so special, is when itβs personal and I really appreciated how both artistβs shared their stories of how their music connects with their personal lives.
Both artists also highlighted their new music. Caroline Kingsbury played multiple songs off her brand new EP Shock Treatment, including the title track and βChocolateβ. MARIS played a brand new song called βSUPER F*CKING MEGA ST*Rβ which released earlier that day. During this song, MARIS had the audience open a dance pit where fans could individually come to the middle of the circle and show off their best dance moves. She expressed that she wanted audience participation during this part because the cover art for the song is a picture of herself thatβs made up of smaller pictures of her with fans. Including the crowd, especially in this song was important, because the duo couldnβt have pulled off a tour of this scale without the devotion of their fans.
Aside from the dance circle, I loved how heavy the audience participation of this show was. Both MARIS and Kingsbury took phones from audience members several times throughout the show to either take pictures, videos, or sing to fans listening to the concert over FaceTime. MARISβ use of the audience was exceptional when she had all of us partake in a self love exercise where we had to hug ourselves, and another person and yell βI love you just the way you fucking are, bitch!β She also did an aerobic dance with the other band members and encouraged audience members to join in, as well as getting into the crowd and jumping around with everyone. Artists who focus on fan engagement are so special, and always make sure that all audience members are having a great time.
Closing out the night both artists sang their most popular songs. Kingsbury wowed with βKissing Someone Elseβ, and MARIS brought back fun summer vibes with βSalt Water Taffyβ. The final song of the night brought the show full circle as the played βGive Me A Signβ one last time. Iβve never seen an artist start and end the show with the same song, but in this case I think it really worked and wrapped up the night perfectly. After taking their bows both artists headed towards the merch table where they stayed out for awhile to take pictures with fans. Give Me A Tour was such an electric show filled with sapphic joy, queer community, and outstanding music, and I canβt wait to see what MARIS and Caroline Kingsbury do next with their careers.
