Concert Review: Esthero

Seven years have passed since the release of Esthero's debut album, Breath From Another, until the release of her follow up Wikked Lil Grrrls last month. So we wondered who exactly would show up to her headlining show at the Fillmore last Friday. Had her fans forgotten about her during her long absence? Turns out they haven't. The Fillmore was roughly two-thirds full with fans of all size, shape, color and fashion sense. Boys who love boys who love girls who enjoy making out in public. Maybe it was the sensuality Esthero oozed from onstage, but it was clear that the audience was feeling the love, and welcomed her back with open arms.

Esthero hit the stage with a fantastic, albeit gigantic, backing band (horn section, drums, guitar, percussion, keyboards, two backup singers and a flute player). She was decked out in a black bustier, black pants and pink fingerless gloves (she joked about the resemblance to Madonna's outfit in her "Express Yourself" video) with her flame-orange hair in an updo. With a voice that's even more striking than her beauty, Esthero makes music that is a deft amalgamation of pop, rock, cabaret, soul, and dukes-up emotion. Her attitude on Friday was so playful, sassy and sensual that you couldn't help but enjoy yourself. The set included songs from throughout her career, with several lyrics that caused impromptu sing-alongs ("I'm the baddest bitch to ever hit this town!") She urged the audience to request the video for her (excellent) single "We R In Need of a Musical Revolution" [watch it here] but acknowledged that since she calls out MTV in the lyrics, they probably won't play it.