Concert Review: Reneé Rapp’s Bite Me Tour Sinks Its Teeth Into San Francisco
By: Carolyn Wang
Reneé Rapp brought her Bite Me Tour to San Francisco’s Bill Graham Civic Auditorium on October 15th, delivering a show that showcased her stage presence and undeniable vocal talent. The crowd was packed onto the floor, waiting before a red curtain draped over the stage with the words BITE ME projected across it. Before the show began, Reneé appeared on the screens to deliver a message encouraging the audience to donate to the tour’s partnered charity, Save The Children – an impactful gesture that set a grounded tone before the glamour took over.
The show began with a pre-recorded videotape titled “The Meeting,” setting up the show’s tongue-in-cheek narrative.Then, all the lights went out causing a cheer to rise from the audience, and just Reneé’s voice came through in the dark, singing “Everything to Everyone,” and as the harmonies increased, a backlight came on to project her silhouette on the curtain, high above the stage. And when the curtain finally dropped, she descended from that raised platform to the star-shaped platform on the stage and ramped up the energy with “Leave Me Alone,” her voice filling the cavernous venue with ease. From the first moment, she radiated confidence – strutting across the stage with playful, sassy energy that bordered on pop diva while still feeling unforced. Every movement was deliberate, every smirk intentional, and she made even the most dramatic moments feel intimate and alive.
Throughout the night, she performed all twelve songs from her Bite Me album, a move that underscored her confidence in the record as a complete artistic statement. The set also reached back to her debut Snow Angel for favorites like “Tummy Hurts” and “Poison Poison.” Her vocals were impeccable throughout – precise, soulful, and unforced – and she carried herself with a natural command that made it impossible to look away. She shifted easily between big, high-gloss pop moments and raw, stripped-down confessionals, showing off the full range of her artistry.
About halfway through the night, the tone shifted for a quieter segment featuring just Rapp and her pianist. The lighting dimmed to a single spotlight, and the massive venue suddenly felt like a small, intimate theatre. Between stripped-down renditions of “That’s So Funny” and “Sometimes,” Reneé stopped for a charming, personal interlude, introducing her dad to the stage leading the audience in singing happy birthday to both her dad and her pianist.
After the piano section, the curtain closed to prepare for the second half of the show. As the anticipation grew, the curtain opened to reveal a massive ornate chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Reneé was once more on the raised platform, kicking things off with “Good Girl” before stepping down for a barricade walk during “Swim.” She spent the song reaching for hands, smiling through lyrics, and locking eyes with fans in the front row. The flow of the show, though, was occasionally broken up due to stop mid-song multiple times as fans fainted in the crowd. It wasn’t her fault – if anything, she handled each moment with composure and care – but the repeated interruptions gave the night an uneven rhythm. Still, every time she resumed, she dove back in without missing a beat, quickly pulling the energy back up.
Toward the end of the night, she delivered one of the evening’s most emotional moments with “In the Kitchen,” followed by a stunning performance of “Snow Angel.” Her voice soared through every high note, blending precision with raw emotion. To close, she teased “Not My Fault, ”cutting it short with a playful bit she’s done on tour (“I don’t want to play this song anymore”), before ending on a high with “At Least I’m Hot.” For an artist still early in her touring career, Rapp performs with the confidence of someone who’s been doing it for decades — bold, self-assured, and entirely in control of her story.