With 2016 trends making a comeback, it felt only right to attend Dodie’s kickoff show for her “Not For Lack of Trying” tour Feb. 20 at the Brooklyn Bowl. Growing up watching YouTube, I constantly saw her videos recommended to me. Still, I hesitated to dive in, intimidated by how devoted her fanbase seemed and convinced I was already too late to join in. More than a decade later, I learned I was wrong. The moment I walked into the Brooklyn Bowl, fans from across the country welcomed me with open arms.
Fans arrived dressed in Dodie’s signature soft indie style, complete with shimmery makeup and her iconic berets. Nearly everyone I spoke with had attended one or more of her shows before. Despite that long-term dedication, there was nothing exclusive about the atmosphere. Whenever someone found out it was my first Dodie show, they responded with excitement rather than gatekeeping; they were simply happy to welcome someone new into the fold.
The opener, Andy Louis, was just as warmly embraced by the crowd. The New York-based, French-born artist brought a groovy indie-soul sound that immediately commanded the room. He delivered moody magnetic tracks that felt unlike anything I’ve heard before. From the dreamy hum that opened “Lily” to the bossa nova–tinged flair of “Andromeda,” he wove subtle French moments throughout his set, keeping them accessible and often playfully explaining their meaning.
What stood out most was his improvisation. Louis slipped in jokes, unexpected riffs and even an offhand “duh” as a nod to Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” during “Eilish Stylish,” a song about love and missed signs, all while navigating notoriously tricky guitar changes with self-aware humor. His ability to veer into a funky free-flowing jam and then return seamlessly to the core of the song was striking. Even as an opener on his first trip to Nashville, he had me locked in and audibly disappointed when his set came to an end.
After a brief delay and a swell of anticipation, Dodie took the stage dressed in a white lace shawl and long white skirt, her hair in flowing pigtails and no shoes in sight. The look leaned fully into the cottagecore softness her fans adore, made even more whimsical by the tiny mushrooms perched on her piano. Ethereal light filled the room as her band walked out and a faint hum carried from offstage before Dodie appeared, bursting into view with a giddy energy that matched, and perhaps even mirrored, the excitement fans had been expressing all night at the Brooklyn Bowl.
The opening stretch of the set felt raw and unfiltered. From the first song, “Hot Mess,” which closed on a soaring high note, Dodie balanced polished showmanship with something intentionally unfinished and real, contributing to her relatability She was animated and interactive, cracking jokes, introducing her band early on and even asking if anyone named Dave was in the audience before launching the next track, “I Feel Bad For You, Dave.” Between playful dancing and quick back and forth with her bandmates, she made the room feel conversational.
As the set progressed, Dodie remained dynamic, shifting between guitar and her mushroom-lined piano, at one point sitting cross-legged on the floor as if to tell a story. Her performance was amplified by the lighting, with emotional moments punctuated by sudden strobe flashes and dramatic shifts. During her performances of “When” and “Now,” Dodie’s tender indie sound captivated the room, drawing the crowd into stillness under a single, simple spotlight.
In addition to emotional lyrics, Dodie did not shy away from heavier material. Introducing songs written during periods of deep depression, Dodie spoke candidly about mental health and the exhaustion that can come with trying to stay afloat. Similarly, in a brief and direct aside, she referenced the current political climate in the United States with a mix of humor and compassion.
“Are we going to talk about the state of your country?” Dodie said.
After this, Dodie spoke about her opposition to ICE and recent immigration enforcement actions, drawing loud affirmation from the crowd before pivoting back to the music. From here, the title track from “Not For Lack of Trying” slowed the night into something almost meditative, framed as an exploration of all the ways one attempts to outrun despair.
Dodie closed the show on a lighter, nostalgic note. She began this part of the show with “She,” a fan favorite from her teenage years, celebrating queer identity. With her ukulele in hand, she nodded to her 2016 internet‑era roots, launching into another early hit, “Human,” that had the crowd swaying shoulder to shoulder.
For an artist who has been touring for over a decade, Dodie still performs with the intimacy of someone playing for friends, a quality that helped create the sense of community she brought to Nashville.
