For some of the best voices in the alternative scene right now, look no further than The Don’t Look Down Tour, featuring powerhouses Bishop Briggs, Misterwives, and Natalie Jane, a newcomer who proved she fit the bill just as well. The tour stopped through Phoenix on Monday night and nearly sold out The Van Buren to a mix of fans and casual attendees, all of whom left impressed.
Natalie Jane oozed confidence when she first took the stage in trendy sunglasses and streetwear, strutting back and forth through “Mentally Cheating” and “Bloodline” before flashing the crowd a huge smile and introducing herself. “In case you couldn’t tell,” she said as she gestured to the big screen behind her that broadcasted her name, “I’m Natalie Jane.” As an artist who’s earning her stripes on TikTok, she knows about self branding. And even better, she earned the respect of the room when she let it rip and belted out her lyrics.
Misterwives, obviously, had to up the ante. The group cultivates an environment of pure joy with plenty of motion and a kaleidoscope of rainbow lights, even when the lyrics don’t match — the album they’re touring, Nosebleeds, is decidedly less sunshine-y than the rest of their catalog. But it’s still resonating with fans, especially live, in the current climate of normalizing conversations around mental health. This edgier, punkier sound (especially “Out of Your Mind” and “Dagger”) also lets vocalist Mandy Lee, bassist William Hehir, and guitarist Marc Campbell show a little attitude on stage, and they were loving it.
The new era of Misterwives music wasn’t the only thing to celebrate. “It’s taken way too fuckin’ long to be on a tour that’s all female fronted,” Mandy Lee remarked toward the end of their set, and the roar of the crowd was all the agreement she needed. Who run the world? Girls.
With the last set of the night, Bishop Briggs had to bring the house down, and she delivered. Opening with the hard-hitting “Art of Survival” and beat-thumping hit “Wild Horses,” she received a raucous welcome from fans who have been waiting years for her to hit the road again. But it’s been a transitional time for Briggs, who had a child last August with husband Landon Jacobs of Sir Sly and then competed (and won!) on game show The Masked Singer earlier this year. (Yes, it was clear to see who came to see her because of the show.)
Although she’s had a break from touring, Bishop Briggs hasn’t lost her stage presence. She speaks sweetly and shyly, like when she talks about writing “MY SHINE” with her friend K.Flay, but she transforms when the music starts. It’s how “JEKYLL & HIDE” is so believable and how “Hallowed Ground” is so haunting. And it adds another dimension to Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” which she covered on Masked Singer and added to her setlist for this tour.
Bishop Briggs closed out her set with “River,” and the whole room erupted with cheers for their favorite under-the-radar star. With so many surprises in recent years, we can’t wait to see what she does next.
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Story and photos by Taylor Knauf
