On Sunday the powerful voice and persona of Beth Ditto graced the stage of Union Transfer. Gregarious and soulful, she delivered a strong set of solo tunes and works from her previous band Gossip.
1. That voice.
Touring behind her first solo album, 2017’s Fake Sugar, Ditto gave us poppy songs with a gritty, soulful prowess. On tunes like “We Could Run” she hits a powerful vocal epiphany, and, reprising Gossip tunes like “Yr Mangled Heart,” she showed us how well the new stuff complements the old.
2. The show opened with the instantly catchy “Oh My God.”
One of Fake Sugar’s finest moments, the song showcases Ditto’s talent as a songwriter, with stellar lines like “I’m not superstitious/ But I had a vision of us.”
3. Ditto was relatable and friendly—even with an injured foot.
Performing with a sprained ankle she earned in a bathroom incident that involved a pre-clogged toilet (as she revealed in a particularly funny moment) Ditto changed shoes during the set while also receiving gifts of fan music and other paraphernalia. The expansive stage setup allowed her to move freely while also getting close to the fans. And it made the final moments of the show—particularly when she played an intimate version of “Dream a Little Dream of Me”—that much more special. It felt like we were in her living room.
4. SSION began the night with catchy dance songs.
The musical persona of Cody Critcheloe jumpstarted the night with tunes from his forthcoming album, O, and favorite numbers from his previous repertoire. One of the night’s greatest moments was when he got down into the crowd to perform “Luvvbazzar.” The Philly contingent loved it.
