Pop Break Live: Michelle Branch with Bad Bad Habits at The Fonda Theater in Los Angeles, CA on October 17, 2023.
The world has felt tumultuous lately, but luckily, live music still has the power to bring people together and remind us about all things good in the world. For the people of Los Angeles, that safe haven came in the form of the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by none other than singer songstress Michelle Branch. After having a difficult few years, Branch took to the stage like a fish to water; her emotion and energy ended up being a cathartic experience for everyone in attendance.
In a move that was both uncharacteristic and fitting for the evening, the line of people trying to get into the Fonda wrapped around the block of Hollywood Blvd several times; in fact, the theatre was nearly packed by the time opening act Bad Bad Hats took the stage. The soft indie pop act, who hail from Minneapolis, Minnesota, were an entertaining trio that sounded somewhere between Soccer Mommy and Courtney Barnett. Led by singer and guitarist Kerry Alexander, whose sardonic wit and Midwestern charm brought levity to the evening by joking how they have two songs that rhyme “hollywood” with “good” and chatting about J14 teen magazines. Highlights from their set include a brand new song – particularly its funky, groovy bassline – and the closing track “It Hurts” which got the crowd singing along with the catchy “oh oh ohs.”
By the time Michelle Branch took the stage, it felt like packs and packs of women in the crowd had gathered and become friends. The experience felt very nostalgic, especially for elder millennials who remember when Branch first hit the scene in the early 2000s with her smash hit records The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. If there was any concern that Branch’s better days were behind here, they were squashed before she could even hit the chorus of her first track, “Tongue Tied.” Her voice is as strong as ever, still full of emotion and power, especially when paired with her vigorous backing band.
Branch’s humor also hasn’t faded over the years. After playing one of her biggest hits “Breathe,” which sounds as light and airy as ever, Branch explained that she had just gone on a journey with a shaman the previous day, resulting in her having purged all day and is now “a branch new Michelle.” Despite this spiritual transformation, Branch appeared to not have aged a day in over two decades and was practically glowing as she bounced and strummed her guitar in cool black leather pants and leopard print boots.
A few special moments of the night were the undeniably early hit “You Get Me,” which prompted lots of fans to pull out phones, start recording, and loudly sing along, as well as newer track “Not My Lover” from her most recent album, The Trouble With Fever. The song was slow and heartfelt, and gave Branch the opportunity to pull out an acoustic guitar to set the mood right. Some fans might be surprised to know that Branch favored an electric guitar for most tracks, which gave her songs even more body when performed live. Her four-piece band knew exactly when to get into a groove, and when to disappear into the shadows so Branch could take a solo during “Best You Ever.”
The highlights of the evening, however, had to include a special guest – and this time it was Bethany Cosentino of Best Coast showing up to perform “All You Wanted” alongside Branch. The energy in the room felt palpable and electric when she finally closed out the first part of her set with “Everywhere.” Every voice in the theatre became one as the crowd belted out the chorus with Michelle smiling on stage. The encore included “Hopeless Romantic” and classic throwback “Are You Happy Now?”; hearing it more than 20 years after its release carries even more weight now than it did then. Branch has grown so much as a creator and performer, and the sweet spot she carved out for herself as a second coming of Alanis Morrissette feels even more meaningful in 2023. There’s nothing quite like hearing a Michelle Branch chorus in a room full of fans who just get it. Singing along with her songs – especially in a large group – felt like the catharsis we were all looking for but didn’t know we needed.
