Gracie Abrams mobilizes 'childless cat or dog people,' cheers Chappell Roan at LA concert

LOS ANGELES – Gracie Abrams sings like she's letting you in on a secret.

It’s one that she shares with her nearest and dearest – a couple thousand fans – on her 54-city (and counting) Secret of Us tour promoting her sophomore album of the same name. The record released following a massive year that saw Abrams head out on her third headlining tour, open for Taylor Swift's record-breaking Eras Tour (a role she will reprise in Swift's final North American shows later this year) and receive her first Grammy nomination for her debut album.

As she belts out lyrics about budding romance and love gone sour and all the confusing vicissitudes in between, Abrams at times appears to be transported back to the room where she wrote her songs while "feeling very big feelings in a very short period of time," as she describes it. In other moments, she’s here with us at the Greek Theatre as we scream her lyrics back to her and into the starless night sky in catharsis.

By the volume of the voices in the crowd, it's clear we've all felt the yearning and heartbreak that influenced her music.

When she's in the present with us, she takes the opportunity for self-deprecation, rolling her eyes and making faces because she knows that not only has she grown from the experiences she’s singing about but also her feelings are shared by the more than 5,000 admirers in the crowd.

And, by the end of the set, all she feels is "Free Now."

It's a 'two-way street' between Gracie Abrams and her fans

Wednesday night – five shows into her Secret of Us tour – marked the second of three hometown shows in Los Angeles for Abrams, 25. For the die-hard fans in the audience, she acknowledged this was indeed supposed to be the first LA date until high demand encouraged the promoters to add a concert on Monday.

"This is a real dream. I grew up coming to the Greek. ... And this has been a bucket list venue for me; I know we all love playing here so much," she said. "This is the second night that we've been lucky enough to play, and we play here tomorrow night as well. And I just want to thank you all for selling it out first."

With the biggest year of her career to date under her belt, Abrams could have easily coasted on her relationship with "Us" collaborator Swift alone. But throughout her set she maintained an at times tangible connection with her fans.

As she sang, she knelt down in her semi-opaque white maxi dress to create special moments with those in the front row, gamely taking selfies with people who handed her their phones – all without breaking her stride or missing a note.

Abrams blew kisses, enthusiastically waved to sections near and far and giggled as she replied "Hi!" to a lucky few in the crowd full of teens wearing low-slung jeans, ruffled maxi skirts and ribbons in their hair. If gratitude were a currency, Abrams' fans would be rich off her "Thank yous."

"You're all just really extraordinary, really special, really important people. And I truly attempt to weave your generosity into my songs and stories," she said after harkening back to her 2020 debut EP with "21." “We’re just in the same boat, and it’s a huge relief and it’s a gift you’ve given me, so thank you.”

As her set wound down, Abrams took another moment to reflect on "our relationship," which was formed in large part by her viral DIY "I Miss You, I'm Sorry" YouTube lyric video being met by an outpouring of vulnerability in 2020.

"It really is a two-way street, this thing. And the only reason that we get to be on the stage tonight is because you care, and I just hope that you feel how much I care about all of you," Abrams said. "I really do feel like we're just one big happy family – a happy family and we all like sad music."

An intro to Gracie Abrams: Get to know the Grammy nominee's heartbreaking hits

Gracie Abrams encourages 'childless cat or dog people' to vote

More than an hour in, after introducing "some of my favorite people in the history of the world," aka the members of her band – drummer Gabe Smith, bassist Cooper Cowgill, guitarist Elle Puckett and keyboardist Casey Kalmenson – Abrams touched on democratic elections.

One of them being the MTV Video Music Awards that had just aired, crowning Chappell Roan as best new artist. ("I voted for her every day. ... I think it's really lucky that we get to live in the same time as a once-in-a-generation artist like Chappell Roan," Abrams, who was also nominated in the category, said.)

But also the presidential election in November.

"It's really wild because we basically get to really see each other, and what we see is what we know, even when elements of our politics want us to ignore it," Abrams said as she discussed being on the road with her band. "Are there any childless cat or dog people? Did any of you watch the debate last night? Are all of us turning out to vote?"

Replying to the crowd's cheers, she continued: "That's what I thought. I'll see you there."

She said what's "awesome" about being on the road this fall is having the nonprofits HeadCount and Planned Parenthood "on tour with us." "The work they do is so crucial," Abrams said.

"Our democracy is hanging by a thread," she went on. "It's hanging in the balance, and we have to show up and do something about that, so I'm really grateful to know that you're all people that care about (the) government."

Gracie Abrams' setlist for the Secret of Us tour

Record label mate Role Model, aka 27-year-old Tucker Harrington Pillsbury, opened the show by playing his catchy hits, including "Blind" and "Deeply Still in Love."

1. "Felt Good About You."

2. "Risk."

3. "Blowing Smoke."

4. "21."

5. "I Love You, I'm Sorry."

6. "Where Do We Go Now?"

7. "Gave You I Gave You I."

8. "Mess It Up."

9. "Full Machine."

10. Surprise song: "I Should Hate You."

11. "Good Luck Charlie."

12. "I Knew It, I Know You."

13. "I Know It Won't Work."

14. "Friend."

15. "Normal Thing."

16. "Feels Like."

17. "Let It Happen."

18. "Tough Love."

19. "I Miss You, I'm Sorry."

20. "Free Now."

Encore

1. "Us."

2. "Close to You."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Gracie Abrams concert review: Singer gets personal, urges fans to vote