Molly Grace, a singer and songwriter from Belmont University, performed a dazzling set on Feb. 27 at Exit/In, near Vanderbilt’s main campus. The night was filled with songs that had fans dancing and singing along. Grace is an energetic and passionate performer, finding ways to interact with her fans both on stage as well as off.
As a full-time Belmont University student, along with her bandmates, Grace goes to classes by day and performs at night. She cites Nashville as playing a huge role in her growth as an artist because of its strong music and songwriting influence.
“I feel like I have so many people around me that if I have a question about something I can ask them and when I see the people around me working it motivates me to work too,” Grace said in an interview with The Hustler.
The whole night was enchanting right from the start, with an incredible pre-set playlist filled with hit songs from artists like Renee Rapp and Maisie Peters that added excitement to the venue. Musician Marielle Kraft opened the show, playing original songs from her EP “Good” where she incorporates the phrase into every song, carrying a different meaning for each one. Throughout her set, Kraft was interactive with the audience, even recommending an East Nashville coffee shop, Flora + Fauna cafe (an 18-minute drive from Main Campus) before singing her original song “Second Coffee.” This was Marielle Kraft’s only performance on the “Lovesick Tour,” with Eva Westphal set to open for the remainder of it.
Moments later, Molly Grace danced onto the stage. The shiny red dress that Molly Grace wears was everything and more, but it’s her stage presence that truly shines on the stage. She opened with her hit song “Women’s Intuition,” which made me feel excited for the rest of her performance, which is something Grace hopes to achieve through every performance.
“I just want people to have fun, and feel empowered,” Grace said
Between her catchy lyrics, jaw-dropping high notes and contagious dance moves, it’s no surprise that we were moving and grooving throughout her set. Grace even sang a few songs acoustically, said to be inspired by Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour.” She played “Here I Am” and “My Mind Ain’t Always on My Side” These songs were nothing short of heartfelt, though Grace was sure to check in through the rollercoaster of songs.
“Mind if I vibe check you a bit?” Grace said.
She snuck in an unreleased song on her setlist, named “Little Bit of Hell” which is an unforgettable song about wishing your ex the best, but hoping they endure a little bit of Karma. When Grace and her band took their bows, many members of the crowd were shouting for an encore, which they honored with Molly’s hit song “What if I? (Grocery Store Song).” This is truly a feel-good song about embracing yourself. The incorporation of store names like Aldi, CVS, Whole Foods, Kroger and Publix makes it catchy and fun.
While Molly Grace’s Nashville performance for the “Lovesick Tour” is over, she will be performing at Geodis Park on March 10 before the soccer game. I had an incredible time not only speaking with Molly herself but also attending an entertaining concert that was nothing but positive and inspiring.
