Alternative band The Aces made a stop at The Foundry at The Fillmore as a part of their “Waiting For You” tour March 1. Hailing from Provo, Utah, the all-female band is comprised of lead vocalist Cristal Ramirez, drummer Alisa Ramirez, guitarist Katie Henderson and bassist McKenna Petty. In my usual fashion, I bought tickets on Stubhub a few hours before the show.
Straight from supporting 5 Seconds of Summer on their “Meet You There” tour, The Aces included songs from their 2017 EP “I Don’t Like Being Honest” and their 2018 debut album “When My Heart Felt Volcanic” in their setlist. To begin the show, they started with “Put It on the Line,” a song that starts out soft with not many instruments, but keeps building momentum as it continues on. It was a great beginning to what would become an extremely energizing show.
They continued with their catchy hits “Stay,” “Bad Love” and “Touch.” The Aces fill all their songs with bouncy guitar riffs and melodies, and these are no exception. They just make you want to get up, grab a friend and dance along. Let me tell you, that’s exactly what I did.
For a group that is not very well known, the crowd itself amazed me. The Foundry only holds 450 people, and the room was packed wall-to-wall with fans of all ages. From middle schoolers and their parents to men in their mid-twenties, these fans were electric. The energy radiating throughout the room was contagious, and it was evident that every fan in that room was a dedicated one.
In addition, the energy coming from the entire band, specifically Cristal Ramirez, was truly incredible. Working all aspects of the stage and interacting with fans, Ramirez was clearly a professional. Not to mention, her vocals were absolutely outstanding. Standing in the crowd, I was completely awe-struck.
They followed with songs “Lovin’ Is Bible,” “Holiday,” “Strong Enough,” “Baby Who,” “Just Like That” and two of my personal favorites, “Last One” and “Volcanic Love.” The Aces constantly kept up their energy, and every audience member could tell that they were genuinely having a good time on stage. It made for a very positive and enjoyable performance.
They finished their regular set with “Physical,” “Fake Nice” and “Waiting For You.” After walking off stage for a few minutes, they returned to the stage for their encore. Consisting of two songs, they began with “Hurricane,” a heartening ballad, which was a change from their usual upbeat style. They finished their show with “Stuck,” their first ever single, which was released in 2016.
After they finished, the girls stayed on stage for about five minutes and greeted their fans from the stage. They were reaching out and touching fans’ hands, all while repeatedly thanking them for coming. It was a heartwarming moment, and truly showed their appreciation for where they are today.
While these four best friends are only in their early twenties, their performance made it seem like they had been professional performers for years. Their talent is undeniable, and their energy on stage is enviable. For their next tour, I can tell you I won’t be buying a last minute ticket on Stubhub; I’ll be on Ticketmaster right when they drop.