REVIEW: Maris: Live at The Masquerade (Altar) - ATL
The intimate tour promoting her EP, Mosh Pit, makes Maris' path to superstardom clearer than ever
I've never been more certain that an artist is destined for superstardom than I am with Maris. Her performance was polished as if she were a seasoned act playing for an arena-sized audience, yet took place in The Masquerade's intimate Altar venue. She radiated confidence on stage, performing inches away from fans who screamed every lyric back to her. She shared personal stories of growing up queer and the meanings behind her songs, punctuated by sharp, flirtatious humor. The set spanned her young but accomplished career, from the retro-tinged songs on her earlier Gravity release to the punchier pop-rock anthems of the recent Mosh Pit EP.
Her vocals excelled in a live setting, effortlessly shifting between powerful hooks and quiet, heartfelt passages. This dynamic peaked when she stepped off the stage with an unamplified acoustic guitar to play “Goodbye Forever.” Fans formed a tight circle as she slowly twirled around, her voice carrying through the quiet room. During “Chameleon,” she asked everyone to sit on the floor while she sat on stage and reflected on being a queer teenager in Montana. She directed everyone to give themselves a hug while repeating the affirmation, “I love you just the way you fucking are, bitch!” While the moment touched on raw themes, her natural humor and warmth kept the room's energy upbeat.
Her studio arrangements expanded into full-throttle rock through the backing of guitarist Andrew Lucas and drummer Julian “Tiger” Lewis. Far from fading into the background, the pair frequently seized the spotlight, abandoning their instruments for a choreographed dance during “False Idol.” Rounding out the visual presentation was a homemade, 10-foot-wide, light-up star shaped like her signature eye makeup, synchronized to the beat of the music.
Maris stood out most in her deliberate efforts to give so many individual fans unique experiences. She handed out two “King of the Pit” slap bracelets for excellent dancing. During “Heavenly Bodies,” an inflatable guitar was meant for the best air-guitarist, but Maris was so taken by the crowd's enthusiasm that she shredded the prop and distributed the pieces among the contenders. Three fans walked away with the T-shirts she and her band wore during the set, while others took home the evening's setlists. During “Missing Me,” she asked fans to FaceTime someone who wasn't at the show. One by one, without missing a lyric, she collected phones mid-call and sang to them, pulling absent fans into the room from miles away.
If this Atlanta stop was any indication, Maris delivers a performance that leaves every fan feeling as though the night was built exclusively for them.
Article and photos by Joe Chiarella. Please credit @joe.takes.pictures or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.
