The Regrettes hit the stage on a hot Thursday evening at The Wiltern in Los Angeles on August 12th, 2022. Opening the show, bands Rocket and Claude prepped the audience for the amount of dancing they would do all night. Even as The Regrettes hit the stage, they danced out quietly, tuning up and softly preparing themselves for the long set they had planned.
The Regrettes, made up of Lydia Night on lead vocals, Genessa Gariano on guitar, Brooke Dickson on bass and Drew Thomsen on drums. Further Joy is the third studio album by The Regrettes, and the staple of their tour. They stopped at The Wiltern for their hometown show in mid-August. Night addressed the crowd saying that “Tonight is a night of celebrating,” simply being ecstatic about performing back in LA. She noted that many of those attending were long-time fans that saw The Regrettes play in dive bars and “gross places” throughout their growing career. Many fans screamed, ensuring Night that that was—in fact—true.
The stage was set with puffy white clouds that hung over the performers. Dreamy blue lighting flooded the stage for most of the set, only to be momentarily countered by some bright pinks and orange tones. The backdrop showed a blue sky with the words “The Regrettes” written in clouds, setting the mood on stage as joyful and serene, much like the album cover.
Kicking off the set, frontwoman Lydia Night jumped into their high-energy set, playing songs back to back with screaming and singing fans the whole time. Pausing for a moment to mention that “it’s ok to not be ok,” and here’s a song about it, jumping into “Better Now.” In addition to all their major hits, The Regrettes choose to cover “Smile” by Lily Allen on this tour. Night introduced the song by saying, “I know you know this song. If you don’t sing along, you’re not fun.” Everyone in the crowd seemed to sing along.
The band sounded crisp, playing all the songs perfectly as they sounded on the record with attention and focused on the details. Dickson and Gariano were at the front of the stage, next to Night and the screaming fans, seemingly living up the limelight, taking moments to smile and laugh at the crowd throughout the set. Night spent much time interacting with the crowd, touching hands and getting closer to the front row throughout the set to be near her fans. During “Dress Up,” their first song on stage, Night grabbed a fan’s phone that they were holding up and proceeded to take a video on stage with it before returning it to its owner. Shortly into the set, Night paused to thank her band and brag about it, saying she’s “such a fucking fan girl” of her own band.
The Regrettes played through a setlist of 15 songs, all with the highest energy. Night would run back and forth across the stage, the band members would headbang, there would be some choreographed moves between the three front women…their energy never seemed to slow down.“After Show Me You Want Me,” the band waved and blew kisses to their fans and walked off stage. The obvious echo of “one more song” resounded from the whole venue, and it didn’t take long to see The Regrettes back on the stage, prepping for their two-song encore.
Lydia Night started “You’re So Fucking Pretty” by sitting down on the side of the stage. Leaning toward the fans, Night spent most of the song singing directly to the lucky fans in the first few rows that were right next to her. Shortly after, she turned around and slowly leaned back into the crowd, having them take her across the venue crowd surfing.
To complete the perfect night, The Regrettes ended with a fan-favorite and their biggest hit, “Seashore.” Night addressed the crowd, asking them to “do this” while she flipped them off. Once the crowd mimicked her gesture, she told them to “think of something that really grinds your gears, and give them one of these during the chorus.” After a few laughs from the crowd, Night mentioned that if you couldn’t think of someone or something, to “think of the Supreme Court…that’s what I do.” The crowd cheered louder than in that moment than the whole night previous.
The Regrettes closed out the show how they started it, living on the highest energy of their hometown show. The joy radiated throughout the venue was a light of positivity fans needed and was the best way to Further Joy.
Setlist:
Dress Up
Better Now
Monday
Rosy
Nowhere
Smile (Lily Allen cover)
Has It Hit You?
That’s What Makes Me Love You
Pumpkin
Barely on My Mind
La Di Da
California Friends
Lacy Loo
I Dare You
Show Me You Want Me
Encore:
You’re So Fucking Pretty
Seashore
Photos: Boston Schulz
Leave a Comment