Distracted

BY: ALLIE RUSSELL

If you were at Chop Shop in Chicago last night, you probably woke up sore and with no voice. UPSAHL’s “Melt Me Down” tour, along with openers Zoe Ko and Conor Burns made sure of that. It was non-stop energy, glitter, and sweat that had the crowd going the entire night – exactly the kind of show that keeps you buzzing for days and feeling hungover the next morning. 

Zoe Ko opened the night with something to prove: the messy pop girls are back! Her bratty, grungy, pop-rock sound immediately grabbed the crowd’s attention. Accompanied by just a guitarist, Ko had a fierce, bouncy energy that never let up. Her third track, “Pink Noise”, was a standout moment, a song she said was written “with all the feminine rage”. Zoe’s strong vocals and infectious hooks set the tone for a night that was as bold as it was chaotic. It’s clear that Zoe Ko knows how to throw a party, and she had the crowd wrapped around her finger only ten minutes in. 

Her stage presence evoked similar vibes to Tate McRae, but with a more rebellious edge. By the time she ended her set with “Dirt”, a song that transformed the venue into a mock NYC nightclub complete with sunglasses, a cheetah-print purse, and a giant fluffy jacket, the entire room was jumping with her. It was the kind of gritty pop rock performance that leaves you ready to keep dancing, exactly what you want from the first opener. 

Next up, Conor Burns entered the stage with a swagger that felt like he was born for it. From the first note, his set leaned into alternative pop-rock territory, mixing big anthemic sounds with playful energy. Conor is cool and he knows it, and every move he made felt larger-than-life. Burns didn’t shy away from showing his personality, moving around the stage with erratic and fun bursts of energy – at one point even licking his guitarist’s guitar mid-song. 

Burns’ setlist features a couple of unreleased tracks, including “Left Me in The Cold” and “Come Alive”, both of which were met with eager cheers from the crowd. Despite a broken guitar string, the band powered through without missing a beat, keeping the energy high. Conor closed by walking through the audience handing out stickers, leaving fans with a lasting impression of his raw, playful charisma.  

When UPSAHL hit the stage around 10PM, it was clear that the night was just getting started. Opening with the sultry, dance-pop anthem “Tears on the dancefloor”, UPSAHL, decked out in a silver puffer jacket and blue latex matching set, brought a sense of confidence to every move. Her set was a balance between playful pop and heavier, moody tones, leaning into a grittier live sound compared to her recordings. This was on full display during songs like “IDFWFEELINGS,” where she plays bass and ends the song face to face in a solo with her guitar player. Even when her guitar cut out for a brief moment, she laughed it off, showing how comfortable and in control she was on stage. 

The performance hit a high with track “Antsy,” which brought an emotional depth to the set, followed by a fiery voice note that set up the second half of her performance. After a brief interlude where the band left the stage and the crowd was left to sing along to track “SLAYYYYY,” UPSAHL returned in a bright red puffer jacket and latex bodysuit, playing into the “fire” half of the fire and ice theme of the “Melt Me Down” aesthetic. 

Zoe Ko and Conor Burns returned to join her for a wildly fun cover of “Heads Will Roll” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, one of the most infectious moments of the night.   UPSAHL’s performance of her unreleased track “Cut Em Off” brought a cheeky moment where she challenged the crowd to make it go viral on TikTok if they wanted her to release it. 

One of the most touching moments came when she brought her little sister on stage for a duet of “Arizona” and a cover of Dua Lipa’s “Good in Bed”, which UPSAHL co-wrote. During “Lunatic,” she jumped into the crowd to dance with fans before returning to the stage to wrap up her set. She ended with “Drugs,” a fan favorite and her most popular song. 

From start to finish, UPSAHL owned the Chop Shop stage with an energy that kept the crowd hooked. Zoe Ko and Conor Burns set the tone with their dynamic performances, but UPSAHL took it to the next level. With every song, her confidence and charisma only grew stronger, making the whole room feel alive. By the end of the night, UPSAHL had proven she’s more than just a talented artist – she’s a magnetic performer who knows exactly how to leave an audience buzzing long after the show ends.