Earlier this year, Australian singer-songwriter Hannah Bahng released her intricate and introspective debut EP, The Abysmal EP, via her independent label Bahng Entertainment. On Dec. 7, Chicago fans got their first opportunity to see this buzzy new artist live on stage at Subterranean during her first-ever Windy City appearance during the first of two sold-out nights on The Abysmal Tour.
“This is The Abysmal Tour. Welcome to the worst night of your life,” Bahng said with a wry smile early in the night, later adding, “Is the night terrible so far? I feel very, very good to be in Chicago. It’s my first time here and it’s really cold. I don’t know how you guys deal with it because my Australian body just cannot deal with the chill of Chicago, but it’s the Windy City right? Yeah, I can feel it.”
As this is The Abysmal Tour, Bahng spent most of the performance – which featured an accompanying guitarist – sharing songs from her hit EP. “Oleander” and “Tonight’s the Night I Die to a Frank Ocean Song.” The most “happiest, light-hearted, joyous” songs Bahng has ever written, “Hannah Interlude” and “Vertigo,” soon followed.
Bahng also shared a few covers including “Too Sweet” by Hozier and Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” the latter of which was dedicated to all the parents in the crowd who brought their kids to the show. Unreleased material also added to the special feeling of the night and “Pomegranate” was another one of the many highlights of the SubT setlist.
On top of connecting with the audience through her personal songwriting, Bahng also revels every chance to create a genuine experience with fans. Taking videos on stage with fans’ phones, hosting a Rubik’s cube solving contest, and responding to call outs from the crowd with gratitude were just a few ways she showed just how much she appreciates all the fan support.
Check out photos from Hannah Bahng’s Dec. 7 show at Subterranean in Chicago below and click here to join the waitlist to try to see her elsewhere on The Abysmal Tour. More information can be found at Hannahbahng.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)