Everyone Wants to Be “Near You,” Gracie Abrams – Annenberg Media

Gracie Abrams' three-day stint at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles was anything but a secret.

On September 12, Abrams wrapped up the Los Angeles leg of her “The Secret of Us” tour with a sold-out show to promote her second album. Abrams, an Angeleno native, said the Greek is a “bucket list” venue for her.

In the past year alone, Abrams opened for Taylor Swift's The Eras' Tour, received a Grammy nomination for best new artist, and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart.

Their iconic status was palpable as over five thousand teenage girls and young women filled the outdoor amphitheater. Known for her enchanting love songs and deeply emotional heartbreak anthems, Abrams has found her niche with teenage girls and young adults who are likely experiencing love for the first time. Dressed in white ruffled dresses, pale yellow tops and dainty headbands, many concertgoers embodied the ethereal aesthetic of Abrams' indie-pop album.

Abrams began the show by running through the album's first three tracks: the melancholic “Felt Good About You,” lead single “Risk” and the biting “Blowing Smoke.”

After that first trio, Abrams paused to address the crowd.

“You are all really extraordinary, really special, really important people,” she said. “I really try to incorporate your generosity into my songs and stories.”

Abrams described “The Secret of Us” as her way of processing “very big feelings in a very short amount of time.” The self-proclaimed queen of “Sad Girl Pop” asked the audience if anyone could get into it. Thousands of hands shot into the air, a reminder of the deep connection that Abrams shares with her fans.

This moment of connection between Abrams and the audience was the perfect segue into “I Love You, I'm Sorry,” a fan-favorite folk-pop song that captures moments of pure honesty and regret in a relationship.

After performing a mix of songs from “The Secret of Us,” her debut album “Good Riddance” and her two extended plays, Abrams took note of mentor and best friend Taylor Swift and deviated from the normal setlist to include an acoustic one Surprise to make song. This evening's selection was “Best,” a repetitive yet heartbreaking slow song that reflects on past mistakes with a former friend.

Other highlights of the second half of the set included an energetic performance of “Good Luck Charlie,” a duet of “Feels Like” with tour opener Role Model, and the powerful anthem “Tough Love,” which had all concertgoers on the edge of their seats with all their might and danced in their seats.

The set ended with an electrifying performance of “I miss you, I'm sorry,” the vulnerable piano ballad that first put Abrams on the map in 2020. Abrams sang every word with power and precision — reminding fans why they fell in love with her music in the first place.

The main set ended with “Free Now,” but Abrams returned for an encore that included “Us.”, her viral duet with Swift, and the euphoric pop hit “Close to You.” “Close to You,” a song that remained unreleased for over six years, was the perfect upbeat, dance-inducing ending to the evening.

Unlike other pop girls of the era, Abrams has the unique ability to sound nearly identical both on recordings and live. Even on complex songs like “I miss you, I'm sorry” and “us.”, where the voices overlap, Abrams has a masterful command of these songs live for someone so early in her career.

She took time during the concert to encourage her fans to vote, as many of her young fans will be voting for the first time this coming November. This comes on the heels of Swift endorsing Kamala Harris and Tim Walz right after the presidential debate on September 10th. Abrams also voiced her support for Planned Parenthood, prompting wild cheers from the predominantly female audience.

“Our democracy is hanging by a thread. It's at stake and we need to show up and do something about it. I am truly grateful to know that you are all people who care about the government,” she said.

In Abrams' own words, their show is perfect for “a happy family who likes sad music.” Her ability to foster community through music is rare for someone her age and so early in her career. As The Secret of Us tour continues, Abrams is sure to perform even more memorable, soul-soothing shows across the country. From moments of laughter to screaming to crying to dancing, there is something for everyone in this show – a true mark of an unforgettable artist.