Higgins took a multi-year break from music before releasing this latest album, which has already sold over 70,000 copies. Not knowing much about the artist, I was surprised to arrive at the venue and find a line of eager fans wrapped around the building at 6:30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. show. I overheard several fans who were confused as to why Higgins was not playing a larger venue, such as the Pageant. I would have to agree, because when eight o'clock rolled around and Butterfly Boucher (the first of two openers) took to the stage, the house was packed tight.
Taking note of the crowd that filled in around me, I felt a little out of place. I would estimate that 95% of the crowd was female, and they were all very eager to see Missy. Katie Herzig took the stage at 9 p.m. building on a stirring performance by Boucher. Her set featured Boucher on bass and Higgins joining in on a few songs. In fact, the whole night felt as though you were watching a single band instead of three different groups. Members of each band played different roles in every set.
By 10 p.m. everyone was ready for Missy to assume her position on lead vocals; the crowd welcomed her with wild cheers and applause. Higgins' set mixed both old and new, starting with "Secret," off her second album "On a Clear Night."
Wrapping up her U.S. tour next month in Atlanta, Higgins will travel home to Australia and play several sold-out shows in Sydney and Melbourne before ending her tour in Perth, Australia in early December.
All photos by Sam Africano.
