Pink, Kink & Punk – The Tour made its second to last stop in Mesa, Arizona, bringing fans a night of musical storytelling.
In an unfortunate circumstance beyond their control, support band Daphne’s Couch was unable to make the Mesa stop of the tour. Nevertheless, the night persisted with Animal Sun, an alt-rock/indie-pop band from Los Angeles, California. A four-piece band with an urgent, synth-infused attack on music. They opened up their set with a bang, getting the crowd amped and ready to party with songs “touch,” “SAFE NOT SOUND,” and “CHASING SHADOWS.”
Their music was infectious, with dancey, rousing group chorus and pulses with dance-floor euphoria that blended so seamlessly. “Still Believe” was by far the crowd favorite, but their whole set had people dancing, laughing, and moving along to the sweet vocals and feel-good vibe. Their songs were not only catchy, but highly relatable in connecting with a general shared struggle of break-ups, reconnecting with lost friends or toxic people, and figuring out how to express ideas and thoughts. Lead singer, Steven Blake, says their musical inspirations are The Killers, The 1975, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Foster the People. Their eight-song setlist was full of upbeat tempos, catchy riffs, and impressive songwriting that tells a rather personal story.
Kelsy Karter was the star of the night, and she did not disappoint. Karter champions rock music with a theatrical twist. The spunky brunette ruled the stage with her independent and careless attitude. She was an electrifying performer and heavily gifted songwriter, who invited her audience into a beautiful, unique world of her own creation, full of rock-n-roll grit and theatrical lyrics. She performed all of her big hits, like “God Knows I’ve Tried,” “Rest In Pieces,” “Harry,” and “Devil On My Shoulder.”Karter explained the significance 0f many of her songs, attributing that many of them were created at a period in her life that she no longer wants to relive, creating an emotional and authentic connection with the crowd through her music. In the middle of her set, she told the crowd that every night they have been rewarding one particular fan with an award for best dressed. Each night, a fan got to take home a piece of artwork curated by Karter herself, encouraging her fans to express themselves through style and to be themselves.
Toward the end of the twelve-song set, Karter invited a surprise guest to the stage, Adam Slack, lead guitarist of The Struts, and her long-time boyfriend. Slack was able to join Karter and her team on the last few dates of her U.S. tour. It was a surprise indeed and left fans only wanting more!
KELSY KARTERWebsite Facebook Twitter
