October, 2024
From the opening song, it was clear that Goth Babe’s show wasn’t going to be your typical performance.
“Can I get a volunteer to ride a gigantic pool toy?” asked Griff Washburn, the artist better known by the name of his musical project Goth Babe. Amid a sea of beach balls being tossed around while the three piece band performed their spacey indie rock beneath a swirl of air bending lights, one brave girl from the crowd climbed into a raft which was then crowd surfed across the pit area during the band’s next song.
Such audience participation is the norm for a Goth Babe show, with Washburn initiating dance contests, and most notably, a live game of Mario Kart being played on the band’s video screen between two audience members, which elicited cheers as the two racers changed standings throughout the race.
Rather than gimmicky, each of these little asides came across as an artist who thought outside the box to make their live shows a fun experience for everyone in the room. Goth Babe’s video screen featured a collection of hiking, dancing, and exploration videos all recorded in beautiful outdoor locations and submitted to the artist to be edited into an epic concert film that accompanied the performer’s song which often center on wanderlust and travel. At another point Washburn announced that he usually throws cupcakes into the audience, but owing to the upholstered seats of the Grand Sierra Resort’s plush indoor seating, he would make a little change and for the first time throw bananas out.
New songs such as “Whole World” from the Oregon Coast EP were performed alongside older songs such as “Canary Islands” and “Weekend Friend.” Following the hour+ long performance, Washburn humbly thanked everyone for attending, leaving the room aglow in smiles from a show that has figured out how to communicate the sheer positivity of the music.
Utah natives The Aces opened the show, with vocalist Cristal Ramirez saying the show was the band’s first ever in the Reno area.
While the four piece’s warm jangly indie rock is filled with catchiness, a combination of the earlier set time and arranging their instruments around the headliner’s onstage seemed to stifle their energy a bit. Though if fans waving signs for The Aces and much of the room taking part in dance moves for the band’s new single, “The Magic”, were an indication, the band’s soundtrack-esque pop songs resonated with the audience despite the opening slot.
Filling their set with songs from their I’ve Loved You For So Long album, the warmth of the guitars and electronics encapsulated the theater, ending seemingly just as the band was really hitting their peak. While short, The Aces’ set was a great taste for a band that has managed to miss the area on their previous tours besides being geographic neighbors with the group.
