Flirty, fabulous, and the future of pop-funk: Molly Grace at San Francisco’s Rickshaw Stop
Anyone who has seen her perform knows that Molly Grace is already selling out arenas; she just hasn’t scheduled them yet. All it takes is a crisp mid-November night in San Francisco to prove this, where an effervescent performance tells the city that Molly Grace’s pop-funk reign is just beginning - and what a grand, undeniable entrance it is.
Rickshaw Stop, a former TV studio and tonight’s venue, is unassuming at first glance, but a little bit of research shows that Grace is about to join an impressive – and somewhat prophetic – list of past performers here: Charli xcx, Billie Eilish, Kali Uchis, and the like.
Tonight, the venue is thrumming with excitement. The tour celebrates Grace’s debut album Blush, which was released just two months prior and is a highlight in her evolution into becoming a fully-realized, in her words, ‘lesbian pop diva’. Blush is a treasure trove of hits, spanning from the perfect hating-your-ex anthem “Lemonade” to the sorrowful “Wearing My Ring”. It’s a remarkable debut, packed with passion and panache, and the prospect of experiencing it live is thrilling.
The opening act is composed of two drag queens. Clark is a charismatic powerhouse, whose wry humor and stage presence sets the mood for local icon Bonita Rose to strut into the crowd to enthusiastic cheers. While both queens undoubtedly dazzle the audience with their striking star-quality, there’s a more profound impact: the performances immediately cement the space as a joyous queer haven created by a rising lesbian pop star.
Then the lights dim, figures shrouded in darkness enter, and at the moment that the unmistakable silhouette of Grace appears onstage a massive roar rips through the room. Grace fittingly starts with Lemme, the perfect teasing song to open both her album and her performance. Bathed in deep red-pink light, Grace keeps the spirit of her debut album’s name alive as she makes everyone in the crowd blush, singing cheekily “just call me Raven / I see visions of us on the floor”
If there’s any lingering doubt about her stardom, it vanishes the moment she hits the first high note. The crowd is screaming, and as my ears ring and my voice goes hoarse, I realize I’m right there with them. Throughout the next hour, Grace captivates the entire room, easily drawing us into her magnetic orbit.
Grace often refers to herself as a “pop-funk princess”, and the title is less a proclamation, and more a statement of fact. Her bravado onstage is matched only by her skill; she weaves through complicated riffs and powerful high notes with such talent that it’s easy to forget just how much technical mastery it requires. Her vocals are complimented by the campy and gloriously joyful energy she brings on stage. Though the smaller stage requires simpler choreography, the performance feels just as immense as Grace approaches the show with the magnetic and theatrical presence of a natural born performer.
One thing that is so endearing about Grace is her ability to make every song feel simultaneously like a radio hit alongside a confession from a best friend. She’s an excellent musician and a pop star in the making, sure – but she also feels like just one of the girls, sharing some juicy gossip about an ex-lover over the phone.
The intimate environment of the venue only amplifies this connection. In an Instagram reel posted just 10 days prior to the concert, she muses “fandom so small that concerts feel like a slumber party.” This is especially evident in the quieter moments, like when she croons her acoustic album closer “Soft” – a song that she once wrote about being in love, but now attributes to her gratitude towards her fans.
Amping it up, she flirts with phone cameras and adds embellishments as she sings to individual fans. At one point, she preaches to the audience during her gospel-inspired and aptly-named “Heaven Sent”, cheekily stating, “I am quite spiritual and otherwise angelic. And it’s a shame I’m not religious, because in another life, I would have made a really fierce megachurch pastor!” She pauses for cheers and tells the audience, “let’s try it out, why don’t we,” before launching into the church service-inspired bridge.
While Grace shines, she is more than happy to share the spotlight. In the middle of the show, Grace introduces her backup singers McKenna Hall and Bella Melius, and states “here in Molly Grace nation, we’re all about bang for your buck, okay?…I think it would be a disservice to you and your dollar if you only these ladies sing harmonies all night!” She switches roles and sings backup to “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé, allowing both Hall and Melius to show their incredibly impressive vocal chops.
Grace even offers her audience a preview of her single “Bow Wow” (out now, but unreleased at the time). And though concertgoers may not know the lyrics to sing along, what they lack in words, they make up for in energy. It’s a display of one of Grace’s greatest strengths. Whether she’s pondering U-Hauling in the brassy “WYKYK”, or lighting up the stage with a fiery vocal run like “Soprano” that has even the altos singing along, Grace has mastered something that felt lost from pop music for a few years: she knows how to have fun.
Grace finishes the show strong with her ultra-catchy hit “F.E.M.M.E.” And as she belts the unforgettable final notes, for a moment, I’m no longer shoulder-to-shoulder with a few hundred fans at an intimate venue. Instead, I see Grace selling out arenas, her name shining from marquees next to the words ‘SOLD OUT’. I see her lighting up award show stages, both as a performer and a winner. I see her music soundtracking houseparties and road trips, spurring anthems for the joys of girlhood and queer love.
In Grace’s own words, she is absolutely ‘fabulous, enticing, magnetic, magical, everything!’ As she leaves the stage for the night to rapturous applause, I’m entirely sure that sooner or later, she’ll return. And while the stage will be bigger and the crowd even more packed, I’m certain that Grace will stay the same: effortlessly flirtatious, overwhelmingly charismatic, and a stunning talent that deserves every flower she is sure to receive.
Photography by Riya Kataria