Suki Waterhouse shines on the Chicago stop of her ‘Coolest Place in the World’ tour
Following the release of her debut album and Milk Teeth EP, the actress and songstress takes to the stage with a charming allure.
Photo: Kenzie Bright
If there’s a triple threat on the rise, it’s Suki Waterhouse. An actress, model, and singer-songwriter, the London-born performer is just getting started.
Starring in the miniseries adaption of the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel Daisy Jones and the Six (due out in March), she’s making a name for herself outside of a fictional pop group. Her debut album, I Can’t Let Go, was released in May of last year to positive reviews and was swiftly followed by her first EP, Milk Teeth.
While this isn’t Waterhouse’s first time on the road, anyone who wasn’t able to catch her supporting Father John Misty or at her solo US and UK shows is in for a delight. Named The Coolest Place in the World Tour, it’s aptly titled. If there’s an aura to describe the show, “cool” is more than suitable. Glitz and glamour aren’t in the background setup or visual effects, rather it’s given to the performers on stage. It’s an intimate approach to touring that reaps many rewards for the audience and those on stage.
Here, we look back on the Chicago stop at the infamous venue off of Wrigley Field: the Metro. As proclaimed by Waterhouse herself, it was the biggest show she’s played so far. That, however, didn’t stop it from being a sold-out one. As fans came in from the Chicago cold, the warm vibes were everywhere.
Photo: Kenzie Bright
The opening act, Blondshell (Sabrina Teitelbaum), came in with a grunge-pop supernova. Aided by her touring band, Teitelbaum kicked off the show with a set of her released singles and a few unreleased surprises (Kiss City was released a few weeks later). A shining moment, nevertheless, was a cover of Disappointment by The Cranberries. As one fan commented, “Dolores [O’Riordan] would be proud!”
While a grunge-pop-centric opener may not have been the first thing to come to mind for a Suki Waterhouse show, it certainly was not the wrong choice. Well received by the crowd, it’s a monumental moment for an up-and-coming artist. Blondshell is worth the pre-show, last-minute catalogue run-through. She just might make a spot in your regular rotation.
Following Blondshell, it was time for the moment everyone anticipated. Proceeded by her touring band members, Waterhouse arrived on the stage with an exciting welcome.
Leading with the single Bullshit on the Internet, her stage presence is immediately known. A soft, vulnerable approach with strong vocals and an immensely talented band make for a notable show. The set begins with more well-known songs and takes a journey into the expressive and often sentimental. Waterhouse plays one-off singles such as the girl-crush anthem Johanna and old singles turned EP tracks Valentine and the tour’s namesake single.
Part of what makes the concert special is how personable it is. Waterhouse regularly talks to the audience like they’re friends that showed up to hear her sing. It’s evident that she is grateful for the words sung back to her, and the atmosphere created by her adoring fans. Because the Metro was her biggest show yet, she revels in awe about how special the milestone is. The cheers that follow are deserved.
Pseudo-ending the show with a strong performance of Melrose Meltdown, it’s within a minute or so chants for an encore erupt. A few minutes later, Waterhouse arrives back on stage for an encore. It’s a double feature of deep-cut Blessed and the Tiktok hit Good Looking. It’s a joyful sing-along moment that the audience enjoys wholeheartedly, and so do Suki and her band. The show finishes off strong, and the energy set in the beginning doesn’t leave until the very last note. For a performer who is still getting their footing on a larger-scale solo tour, Suki Waterhouse is a class act.
From the screen to the stage, there’s no denying that Suki has the ability to become a household name. Making the move into music is a wise choice; she has the alluring voice and lyricism to draw curious minds in. She’s not just another indie girly, she’s a mature singer with the passion to be vulnerable, and that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.