Remi Wolf at MGM Music Hall, 9/24
Remi Wolf’s stage presence is remarkable. Dressed in a colorful plaid shirt, loose pants, and accessorized with a large belt buckle, the 28-year-old singer danced, twirled, and leapt across the stage at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Wolf had originally tapped the up-and-coming Rachel Chinouriri as her opener, but unfortunately the artist had to pull out of the BiG iDEAS tour, citing financial concerns. Luckily, British pop act Lava La Rue stepped in and did not disappoint.
Wolf took to the stage with “Cherries and Cream,” a song which she described as “a movie in itself.” It was easy to get lost in the singer’s soaring vocals and the band’s lush instrumentation. She jumped right in after with “Cinderella,” a colorful, catchy tune that showcases Wolf’s lyrical range, from introspective and self-deprecating (“Is there something wrong with the way that I’m designed?”) to cheeky and horny (“Moving my hips from left to right / My, my check my phone / Feel it in my belly when you're driving home”). Add in its punchy horn riffs and the playful whistle tweets and it’s easy to see why “Cinderella” was chosen as a single from the album.
The last song I was able to view from the photo pit was called “Pitiful,” in which Wolf playfully makes fun of herself and her “pitiful” lovesickness. She then treated the crowd to her 2021 single “Liz,” where her vocals take a dreamy tinge, pulsating with soul-inspired backing vocals and guitar features.
One of my favorite tunes from the night was the jubilant “Kangaroo.” I love when artists slip the album title into song lyrics, and “big ideas” was repeated multiple times in the verse and pre chorus. The chorus is bright and insistent: “Oh please stay, call me hunny / We could go upstate, make some money.” Wolf even hopped on the drums herself, which was an exciting surprise! “Kangaroo” was followed by “Alone in Miami,” a sultry song also from Big Ideas. Next, Wolf dipped into her 2021 album Juno with the song “Sexy Villain.” This track is chock-full of cultural references: “Left my boy watching Euphoria,” “I’m the west coast Bob De Niro,” “aqua girl with the rising Leo.” These allusions still hold up well several years after its release.
Wolf’s cover performance of the night was the crowd-pleaser “Life is a Highway.” The singer then performed an improvised song based around an audience-chosen word: “Shark.” The improv activity highlighted the singer’s strong vocals and playful personality.
Wolf continued with “Wave,” a jaunty, tropical-inspired tune that builds into a steady rock beat and powerful, angsty chorus. The ballad “Motorcycle” was next, followed by “Prescription,” a 2023 single. Another highlight of the night was “Toro,” an addictive selection from Big Ideas that I’ve been jamming out to since its release. Capitalizing on the popularity of the steamy song, Wolf and her band performed a groovy dance, featuring finger bull horns, clapping, and plenty of sensual strutting. Next was a deeper cut, “Guy,” and then “Disco Man,” a bubbly track from 2020’s I’m Allergic to Dogs! EP. More animal references were heard in “Soup” (“Lay like a dog / as I wait for your arrival”), which closed out Wolf’s main set with its very catchy chorus: “If you give me your keys, I’ll go and pick up the soup / Oh oh, I don’t wanna live without you.” The singer then returned to the stage for an encore of “Photo ID,” an upbeat tune that gained popularity with Wolf’s 2021 collab with Dominic Fike.
Overall, Wolf’s performance was bold and shameless, perfectly encapsulating the colorful energy of Big Ideas. Her effervescent personality and lively music were a great end to my day, and I highly recommend catching one of her shows.
