Photo: Jill Sharp
The night began with Astyn Turr, a one-woman act with an insane voice and a beautiful guitar. Her voice WAS the performance. Everyone in attendance fell silent, taking in the artistry unfolding on stage. Astyn showcased unbelievable melodies and relatable lyrics. I would liken her to what you’d get if SZA and Yebba had a baby, maybe with a bit of Miley Cyrus spice.
She played a few covers that everyone knew, had great crowd control, and sprinkled her setlist with songs from her newest and first full-length album, Let Her. Astyn Turr was a great opener for Yebba’s show, leading us into the evening with soul and style. Little did I know then that Astyn is also part of Yebba’s backup vocal team! It was a treat to watch her perform even after her opening set.
And then it was time for Yebba.
She is euphoric, unapologetically herself, and commands the crowds that come to see her. She commanded History in Toronto on Saturday for the opening night of the Jean Tour. Every single person in attendance was wrapped around her finger for the duration of the show. She and her incredibly talented band set the bar for the rest of the tour, and they set it well.
Yebba can laugh off a mistake, and it shows how genuine she is in her performances. She listens to her crowd and often responds to things she hears from her fans in the audience. She puts her fans’ well-being before the continuity of the performance, pointing security toward a fan who was overheating in the crowd and making sure they could get help safely. All of this, and Yebba was surprised that so many people came out to see her—a woman of integrity.
On top of her incredible personality and presence, she can take the room from a slow pace to a high-energy dance beat in the same song. In less than four minutes, she shows kindness, love, acceptance, empathy, togetherness, and so much more. What I loved even more was that the crowd showed all of these traits too. It really was a room full of love. You could see and feel it. Humans who show love and kindness will receive it back tenfold. In my opinion, Yebba’s shows are a perfect example of this, and it was so refreshing to be in that room with all of those people. People from all sorts of different walks of life, all together for the same love of music, and not just music, but Yebba’s music.
Her setlist mixed old and new, creating a sense of togetherness that is hard to find. I first dove into her discography after the release of Jean, which blew me away and led me to discover more of Yebba’s music and what she was about. When I saw the show and tour announced, I knew I had to be there.
The highlight of the show for me was when she played “Yellow Eyes.” That song really brought me to Yebba, introduced me to her voice, and introduced me to her intentional and meaningful lyrics. After hearing that song for the first time, I knew I was in for a wild ride through her music. I sure was. I feel incredibly lucky to have stood among the fans who have been there since the start, as well as fans like myself who are getting our first taste of Yebba on stage.
I often say that concerts feel like home. They feel like a safe space where you can really let loose and be yourself. It’s been a while since I've felt that way, and Yebba’s show at History brought it back.
When it was over, fans walked and sang together, talking about how good she is and how special it was that she sang “October Sky” and “Paranoia Purple,” two songs she's omitted from her setlists for a couple of years now. The crowd's roar made it clear how much these songs were anticipated. I loved how silent the crowd became at just the right moments, as if anticipating something special, which Yebba absolutely delivered.
Thinking of grabbing tickets for the Jean Tour? You most definitely will not be disappointed!
CONCERT PHOTOS
YEBBA
ASTYN TURR
Words & Photography: Jill Sharp
