It is undoubtedly fun and thrilling to cover major music festivals and sold-out arenas. However, the real magic is made when I get to return to my roots, exploring local scenes at intimate venues. This is where communities form and build; people who might not have ever had the chance to cross paths become friends in line at the venue, already having one thing in common. I was invited to the Carlie Hanson headliner in San Francisco by my friend Ezra who was opening. We’ve covered his work at length before, but getting the chance to see a live performance opened new doors for music discovery since it was my first experience with the headliner and first opening act, Intica Vibes. I knew this evening would be one I would remember forever the second I arrived at the venue, befriending two other Kaylas who happened to be best friends. One of them mentioned that this was her first concert in 15 years, only having seen the legendary, iconic Hannah Montana before that night’s event in the city. My life sounded like something out of a storybook (or Wattpad fanfiction) to her, but I could not be more honored to help someone discover a new hobby. Few hobbies are more transformative than live music.

We congregated into the tiny room with little fuss, friendly staff & local opening act Intica Vibes greeting us upon entry. At this point, I was experiencing the show through the lens of the other two Kaylas, much to my advantage as a huge fan of the film “Heathers.” One Kayla was earnestly attempting to be Carlie Hanson’s biggest fan, ensuring verses she had memorized in the car on the way there were engrained into her brain like she would be pop-quizzed by the indie darling in real life upon making eye contact. It was at this moment I realized that the depth of an artist’s work can impact someone instantly, as if it were the antidote they needed forever, finally finding it in the sweaty, atmospheric dance hall located conveniently in one of San Francisco’s most culturally expressive neighborhoods.

Intica Vibes started the evening off with a bang; her music was lots of fun and marked with a very human, real sense of expression. She entered the crowd at one point, engaged in banter with the first few rows, clearly enjoying every second she got up there. I didn’t catch the name of my favorite song, but it’s the one she called “spooky.” I believe it is titled something along the lines of, “Afraid Of The Dark.” Any artist’s spookiest song is going to be my favorite, every time. The way that Intica Vibes made her performance so crowd-centric was absurdly admirable. She lacked the audacity that many have once they can fully integrate themselves into the scene of their choice, or dreams in some cases. I watched as she introduced herself to every single person in the room. Though she is freshly starting as a performer, I found it easy to take notes from her community-based approach. This sense of humanity made her more interesting to watch. Selfishly, humans are always going to be more inclined to enjoy what they can relate to. Beginning with approaching supporters as friends rather than fans, especially while playing tiny dance halls in big cities, is genius for everyone involved. Hopefully, I’ll catch another Intica Vibes set soon—whether I am on or off the clock.

During the brief interim between sets, I bonded with the audience around me. One of the best parts of my job is the ability to go incognito; nobody would have known that I was invited to be there, so I could connect with everyone, with absolutely no pressure on anyone’s behalf. The overall energy of the crowd was warm, welcoming, and friendly. It was evident that Carlie Hanson had amassed a true community of people with shared values. There were so many colorful, vibrant people surrounding me that I was lucky to have the chance to talk to, including my two new friends who shared my name.

By the time Ezra took the stage, the crowd was awake with vigor. A well-planned bill of artists always translates to crowd reactions. Many were unfamiliar with Ezra’s work, and this was their introduction, but he didn’t get the dreaded “opening act” treatment. Instead, he acknowledged requests from fans/friends in the audience, met with applause from everyone else. Again, a sense of humility overtook the entire evening. No one had a “holier than thou” attitude, allowing the audience to let their hair down and escape from dreary daily tasks. Ezra’s live vocals are extraordinarily impressive, though he admitted to experiencing a bit of strain due to this being his first full run across the country. It’s noticeable that he has only grown more confident in his musical ability, perhaps due to collaborative efforts and thoughtful advice. Magic is made when artists have the right village behind them to support their endeavors. He performed some of his most-streamed songs as well as unreleased tracks, including a song he had just written the night before titled, “Honey & Ginger” (might be “Ginger & Honey”). The confidence it takes to perform something for the pure attachment to its personal meaning is beyond admirable. Ezra left with many new fans by allowing his art to exist in its most natural form. “Tightrope” has remained my favorite song of his since his team sent it to me earlier this year.

Finally, excitement rose as Carlie Hanson was about to take the stage. I was immediately impressed by her Jeff Buckley t-shirt, but I quickly learned that her audience knew what’s up. From the first few notes, Hanson’s music was engaging, even for those unfamiliar with it. Her on-stage energy was fun, yet relatable without trying too hard to be. It was later revealed that she had grown familiar with some individuals in the audience, and witnessing that kind of bond is always a real treat. You never know who might need a song that you wrote on a whim, to express a feeling you weren’t sure anyone else had felt before you. This seemed to be the overarching theme of Hanson’s set, which I wished was longer despite having to catch the last BART train home as a solo adventurer. Brick & Mortar is a perfect venue for these kinds of shows; the intimate setting allows everyone to have the best seat in the house, and the venue’s acoustics make way for the music to be heard in its truest live form.

Hanson’s crowd work was incredibly impressive, as she guided us through several songs in her set. About midway through, the song Kayla had been quizzing herself on the entire evening was being performed. Suddenly, all of my new comrade’s anxieties vanished and were replaced by an understanding that the energy of a performance naturally captivates audiences. It was inspiring to see a casual fan become a diehard so quickly, simply by witnessing Hanson’s live performance. She is truly mesmerizing up there, with a stage presence I have not seen in the indie space she is taking over. It didn’t feel like I was watching a Phoebe Bridgers or Lucy Dacus tribute act. Rather, this young performer has figured out who she is through trial and error, letting her experiences flow through each song, resonating with likely and unlikely audiences. My favorite songs of her set were “608” and “Blueberry Pancakes,” with the latter including some of the aforementioned impressive crowd work. The chant was stuck in my head the entire BART ride home…which is an hour long, by the way.

By the encore, my new friend Kayla had sworn to herself to attend many more concerts, not waiting another 15 years to try again. She expressed her adventure as a rush, unlike anything she had felt before, a reminder to this journalist Kayla of why I do this in the first place. Of course, it’s a cool story to tell that I met a trifecta of shared names in one night. However, it’s a much cooler story to tell that I saw someone become a live music addict in real-time. Small, intimate shows are often overlooked; but they tend to be people’s entry points to a newfound, lifelong hobby that enables them to make friends and memories that will last forever.