Atlanta singer-songwriter Faye Webster took the Ryman Auditorium Stage on Sept. 16, moving the crowd with an emotional performance featuring jazzy instrumentals and heartfelt lyrics. Accompanied by her tight-knit band — pedal steel player Matt “Pistol” Stoessel, keyboardist Nick Rosen, bassist Bryan Howard and drummer Charles Garner — the group delivered a vibrant set of experimental tunes.
Best known for her debut album “Atlanta Millionaires Club,” which featured top hits like “Right Side of My Neck” and “Kingston,” Webster’s latest album, “Underdressed at the Symphony,” is achieving similar acclaim. Blending various instruments — including synthesizers, saxophones, electric guitars and violins — these tracks span a plethora of genres, creating sensational tunes. Webster masterfully mixes indie with jazz, rock, folk and R&B in a harmonic way, tied together with her deeply moving lyrics. With upbeat songs about love to melodramatic tunes about her ex, Webster can tap into every emotion to resonate with listeners.
The concert opened with indie rock singer-songwriter Miya Folick, who delivered heartfelt songs about her first love and heartbreak. Accompanied by instruments like the saxophone and flute, Folick’s sound complemented Webster’s. Folick played her latest single, “La Da Da,” along with more unreleased tracks from her upcoming album. The crowd was swaying, and the mood was perfectly set for Webster to take the stage.
The stage production was a whimsical yet striking reflection of the album’s laundry theme, featuring brightly lit washing machines, clothing racks and a massive 25-foot white T-shirt hanging from the ceiling as the centerpiece. As the show began, the washing machines lit up, and playful animations of Minions — including a “Faye Minion” — were projected onto the giant T-shirt, welcoming the audience and hushing the crowd as Webster made her entrance.
Webster immediately energized the crowd by kicking off the set with her recently released song “But Not Kiss.” From then on, Webster delivered back-to-back performances like “Wanna Quit All the Time,” “Lego Ring” and “Dreams with a Baseball Player.” She kept the energy high, not pausing to greet the audience until her seventh song.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came during “Right Side of My Neck,” when bubbles, rather than smoke, filled the stage, creating a dreamy atmosphere. The soft, nostalgic melody enchanted the audience, who sang along as Webster danced around, shaking her shaggy hair and tapping her feet to the rhythm. She rarely spoke to the audience, but her dramatic moving lyrics provided all the dialogue needed.
Webster’s alternative folk sound draws palpable comparisons to artists like Clairo or Pheobe Bridgers. However, what sets her music apart is her incredible instrumentals and production from her band. For instance, in the song “Thinking About You,” the lyrics repeat “thinking about you” 26 times, yet it leaves the listener feeling as if they’ve heard an entire story about missing her ex. The tone of her voice, mixed with the low-beat drums and smooth saxophone, created a unique sound unlike any other.
“We’re going to try something new,” Webster said.
She then played an unreleased song about the feelings after a first kiss — an unforgettable experience. Webster followed, saying that fans should be on the lookout for an EP drop.
Within the first few seconds of the intro of “Jonny” and “Jonny (Reprise),” the crowd stood up with excitement. One of Webster’s more lyrical songs, “Jonny” finds her wondering what she looks for in love. Composed of lyrics like “this wasn’t ‘posed to be a love song… but I guess it is now,” the song delves into the deeper meaning of not knowing what love is. In contrast, “Jonny (Reprise)” has almost no instrumentals, relying instead on poetic verses that explore her unique relationship with Jonny.
After a whopping 15 songs played in under an hour and a half, the band continued with two more encore songs, “Feeling Good Today” and “Kingston.” As the night came to a close, Webster’s mic cut out during the performance of “Kingston.” However, the crowd responded by belting out the lyrics, their collective voices filling the space in a moment of shared joy and nostalgia.
Webster’s concert at the Ryman was a breathtaking fusion of music, creativity and emotion — a testament to her genre-defying instrumentals and artistic growth. Her voice as the centerpiece certainly left me eager for more.
