REVIEW: Kelsy Karter and The Heroines with Torturetwinn: Live at Vinyl @ Center Stage - ATL
- Joe Chiarella
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
The group elevates their arena-level energy at their intimate Atlanta show
Kelsy Karter and The Heroines brought the Pleasure Tour to Atlanta on Tuesday, June 9, packing an arena-sized performance into Vinyl's intimate space. Her previous two headlining visits to the city faced significant challenges. In 2022, she was hospitalized the day of the show for severe physical exhaustion, yet refused to cancel, delivering a deeply memorable performance just hours later. In 2024, after a fraudulent visa service left her bandmates stranded, she completed the tour solo to glowing reviews. She overcame significant hurdles to put on those two shows, but her 2026 return to Atlanta, alongside her long-time bandmates, elevated their performance to another level.
Joining them as support on this leg of the tour was Torturetwinn, the Virginia-based band that Karter discovered on TikTok and immediately recruited. Torturetwinn brought a dedicated crowd of their own, many of whom eagerly returned after catching the band's set just a month prior at The Masquerade. While their sound differs from that of The Heroines, both acts delivered a kind of 80s showmanship and nostalgia that makes them go so well together.
Karter took the stage, singing the opening lines to "God Knows I've Tried," approaching her bedazzled mic stand in burlesque-inspired performance lingerie and leopard-print gloves. Her powerful voice effortlessly switched between soft and loud, and carried through the whole room. Her appearance was a perfect blend of hard and soft, taking an outfit that felt intimate and vulnerable and wearing it like a suit of armor. Between songs, she championed femininity and told stories of record executives who made the mistake of thinking they could dictate how she should look. Karter has always done things her way, and her live sets offer a masterclass from an artist who is the embodiment of rock and roll. Her shows, much like her 2025 autobiographical album, Love Made Me Do It, are full of the stories behind the songs, giving fans a candid look into life as a rock star.
With the band finally united on stage, the chemistry among The Heroines was undeniable. The group radiated authentic joy, cracking jokes with each other at every opportunity. She introduced the song "Lightning in a Bottle" as an ode to the band and how they elevate each other to new heights. A special moment in the set involved performing a fan request, "Villain,” a song that Karter admitted she doesn't love performing, yet one that consistently resonates with fans. She graciously performed it, leaning on members of the band and the audience to help carry the lyrics. After the song, bassist Tommy Gent joked that he knew all the lyrics and sang them perfectly, but no one could hear him, turning a usually emotional song into a more light-hearted and connecting moment.
Fans were treated to several distinct highlights, including an acoustic cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out For a Hero," which showed off Karter's vocal range as well as the talents of guitarist Matthew Peach. She also teased new music, playing an unreleased song called "One Man Show" and joking about the awkwardness of performing material the audience is unable to sing along to. The crowd embraced it, however, and she promised new music, a new album, and new costumes next year. She closed out the night with her breakthrough hit "Harry" and a powerful performance of "Liquor Store On Mars." When the lights came up, the crowd lingered, still processing what they had just experienced, with nobody leaving the venue. Vinyl's layout requires performers to go through the audience to get back to the green room. Karter navigated this path with her signature charisma, met by the cheers of fans eager for one final interaction.
Article and photos by Joe Chiarella. Please credit @joe.takes.pictures or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
