Live Show Reviews

King Princess Left Chicago Feeling Fantastic

On 11/7/2025, King Princess brought her Girl Violence tour to the Salt Shed in Chicago, Illinois. The evening was full of groovy, sapphic vibes that made for a night that brought girls across the city to their knees.

The show opened with a bang as the lights went up and King Princess ran out, full of explosive energy. Immediately she made her presence known, running to every corner of the stage, acknowledging every inch of the venue. Diving headfirst into her hit song, “Cherry”, it was evident that she was here to make an impact.

As the first few songs ended and the cheering died down, King Princess playfully yelled, “No silence!”. To no one’s surprise, the crowd delightfully erupted into another fit of cheers. It was like everyone in the room was put under a spell as they screamed louder still, unable to take their eyes off of King Princess’s every move. She had the entire audience wrapped around her finger from the get-go, and she knew it.

Transitioning into “Girls,” a song off her most recent album “Girl Violence,” the power she held over her fans remained evident. Through her compelling, gritty vocals, King Princess brought to life a feeling that queer women know all too well. Hearing the words “girls bring me to my knees” felt raw, honest, and relatable. It was a perfect snapshot of the sapphic experience – a whole room full of women yearning.

Speaking of women yearning, nobody yearned quite like Caitlin in Vi in the Netflix show, Arcane. The couple who King Princess wrote a song specially for, an experience which she deemed one of the coolest opportunities she’s ever had. When the iconic opening notes to “Fantastic” rang through the venue, I couldn’t contain my excitement. Arcane has a special place in my heart, and to hear such a significant piece of its soundtrack performed live instantly became a core memory. And judging by the fans in attendance who were cosplaying characters from the show, I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Throughout the night, King Princess brought passion, vulnerability, sensuality, and raw talent, and the performance was thoroughly enticing. Each moment was full of intention, which made for an impactful experience felt by every single person who found themselves at the Salt Shed on Friday night. It is evident that King Princess’ whole heart is in performing and making music. If you have a chance to catch her on tour, she’s still got several more shows across the US and Europe, and I highly recommend getting out to one. I can guarantee that you will be glad that you went.

Author

  • AJ (they/them) is a Chicago-based creative who started at Next Wave as a photographer and quickly expanded into interviews and reviews. Shooting with dual Nikon D850s, they’ve covered everyone from local acts to touring bands like Icon For Hire, all while teaching students who are blind and visually impaired. Their favorites include PVRIS, Ashnikko, and Halestorm, and they dream of shooting Paramore or Måneskin.

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AJ Bloom

AJ (they/them) is a Chicago-based creative who started at Next Wave as a photographer and quickly expanded into interviews and reviews. Shooting with dual Nikon D850s, they’ve covered everyone from local acts to touring bands like Icon For Hire, all while teaching students who are blind and visually impaired. Their favorites include PVRIS, Ashnikko, and Halestorm, and they dream of shooting Paramore or Måneskin.

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