Concert Review: Samia Has No Problem Drawing a Tear On Her Tour Closer
By: Dylan Basden
Samia wraps up the North American leg of her “Bloodless” tour in Nashville, taking on Brooklyn Bowl and her first true headline show in the city for the first time since 2023. Since then, the Music City has seen Samia open for Noah Kahan’s two-night stint at the amphitheater, support Bleachers on their two-night run at the Ryman, and headline part of WNXP’s Backyard Sessions. Samia is currently out in support of her third studio album, Bloodless, which released in April of this year. She has also recently released a 5th anniversary edition of her debut album, The Baby, after her single “Pool” saw a resurgence on TikTok earlier this year.
Kicking things off with “Triptych,” a longtime fan-favorite from her debut, Samia quickly leans into her strengths with raw, haunting vocals and notoriously heart-wrenching lyrics. It’s not your typical pedal-to-the-metal sort of opening, but I really couldn’t imagine a Samia show opening any other way. The dynamic between her upper register on the choruses and the more downtrodden vocals of the verses is incredible, with her voice immediately shining through the slow build of the percussion and backing band. Lyrically, while maybe not quite as explicit, this track touches on the same story presented in “Breathing Song,” which if you are in the know leaves this opener as a dazzling moment of intimacy with the crowd.
Track two sees Samia resign herself to her piano, taking on “Dare,” another vocally moving song early in the night. It’s a subtle swell, with Samia’s delicate keystrokes and casually poetic storytelling leaving a lot of room for the imagination as she slowly leans into the repeating chorus in the final moments of the song. Samia’s music has rarely been straight forward, with “Dare” being no exception. She stays deeply vulnerable, opening up on some vividly dark moments in her life as seen on “Triptych,” but there is always enough uncertainty to allow listeners space to project onto the music. I believe this is Samia’s greatest strength as a writer. “Dare,” to its credit, does this extremely well, as its focus lands squarely on the understanding of someone else’s perspective in traumatic events, even where that might not be deserved.
Following the track list of Bloodless, Samia transitions back to her frontwoman persona for “Fair Game,” a, for her standard, peppier song. Its acoustic guitar and groovy bass add a nice sonic element to the night, allowing the audience a moment to relax from a rather heavy introduction. Again, Samia stuns vocally, the chorus is a spectacular showcase of the raw vocal ability she possesses. And yes, while much of Samia’s music is in this same vein of cool indie pop-rock, further into the night fans are treated to bigger productions in “Big Wheel,” “Kill Her Freak Out,” and the downright pop anthem of “Honey.” Samia is far, far from one dimensional, and I believe her live shows are a fantastic showcase of this.
Setlist
Triptych
Dare
Fair Game
Sacred
Bovine Excision
Proof
Carousel
Hole in a Frame
Big Wheel
Kill Her Freak Out
Spine Oil
Craziest Person
Lizard
North Pole
Fit N Full
Pants
Pool
Is There Something in the Movies?
Honey
Samia really is one of the best performers you can see live. If you enjoy the raw, left-of-center feel of her recordings you will feel right at home. Having now seen hundreds of shows across all different genres, I struggle to think of someone who is as intimate and open with their audience as Samia. Her show in 2023 was one of the few times I found myself sobbing at a concert, with this time around being no different. Whether it is a live show, The Baby, Honey, or Bloodless, I cannot recommend Samia in any higher regard. You should be lending Samia your time and you attention.
While Samia is pretty firmly wrapped up domestically in 2025, she still has a handful of international dates announced before she returns stateside for Coachella in April. You can find her upcoming shows below and on her website.
Oct 26, 2025 – Glasgow, UK – G2 [SOLD OUT]
Oct 27, 2025 – Manchester, UK – Yes (Pink Room) [SOLD OUT]
Oct 28, 2025 – London, UK – KOKO
Nov 14-16, 2025 – Mexico City, MX – Corona Capital
Apr 12, 2026 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival
Apr 19, 2026 – Indio, CA – Coachella Music and Arts Festival