Stevie Bill live at Omeara.
At her first-ever headline tour, Dutch sentimentalist Stevie puts her heart on display and turns Omeara into a group healing session.
‘I hope you know how strong you are’ Stevie insists as she hands across a ribbon-wrapped bouquet of flowers with a handwritten note, to a tearful girl in the crowd. Charlotte has come to the gig alone after a breakup, and Stevie’s fans launch into an antiphony of applause and cheers as the entire atmosphere in Omeara’s den shifts. We are all now apparently in group therapy. Stevie wraps up the applause by lifting off into a stunning live rendition of ‘Hurts to Hold On’ and strangers dance between each other. Tonight's show is about connection, and whilst Charlotte processes what was hopefully a fan experience she will never forget, Stevie continued to give Monday everything it needed.
Even with her latest EP release ‘I was a platinum blonde’, the New York based singer doesn’t have the largest discography, but tonight Stevie showed that quality beats quantity. Coming out to her hit ‘Amsterdam’, Stevie has decided to wear an oversized blazer suit, a nod to her rock influences and oh-so-chic popstar status - she looks the part. What is even more notable than her boyish look, is her performance. Giving off Avril Lavigne energy, Stevie rubs shoulders with her guitarist as she performs her new song ‘Crush’ and then ‘Poison’ to an eager audience, and it feels like we are witnessing a brand new rockstar era.
It may only be her first headline tour, but she has carved out the show and setlist spectacularly. At one point we witness Stevie run off stage, and suddenly the room is plunged into darkness. Ambient sound and lighting creep back in, and there’s an instant mood change as we hear a diary-style voice memo interlude. Stevie's voice echoes her struggles with imposter syndrome over the last 8 months. When she returns to the stage, a lilac corset and skirt have made an appearance. The iconic Dutch girl thanks the crowd again and again, exclaiming that she is actually sick (!) but continues her set with effortless energy.
With her blazer back on over the top of her playful outfit for the last few songs of her set, Stevie somehow gets the crowd waving side to side in unison. The tallest man in the room jumping and screaming the lyrics ‘I’m Just A Girl’ speaks to the magnitude of the safe space Stevie has created in this room.
