The budding indie-pop artist kicks off her second headline tour following the release of new EP, “Bug”
By SAVANNAH ANNO — [email protected]
On May 1, musical artist Alix Page arrived in San Francisco to perform at Rickshaw Stop, a 4,000-square-foot venue that has hosted artists like Billie Eilish, The 1975 and Charli XCX early on in their careers. Following back-to-back shows in San Diego and Los Angeles, Page kicked off her second headline tour by celebrating her largely Californian fanbase.
Born in Orange County and attending the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Page has spent the last five years gaining traction as an indie singer-songwriter, releasing her first song, “Stripes,” in 2020. Page solidified herself as a strong lyricist with the acoustic track, using anecdotal details to flesh out the story of a breakup.
A past opener for Gracie Abrams’ “This Is What It Feels Like” tour in 2022 and more recently Sarah Kinsley’s “The Escaper Tour,” Page has gone from supporting shows at venues like New York City’s Bowery Ballroom to serving as their main act.
In a recent interview with The Luna Collective, Page discussed the impact of her time as a tour opener.
“The tour with [Abrams] was my first ever, so it was really special,” Page said. “The biggest takeaway was seeing how kind and generous she is with her fans. She treats them like friends and family, which was incredible to witness.”
At her show this past weekend, Page spoke to the intimately sized crowd between songs as much as possible. Explaining that she wanted to return to her roots of playing shows with just herself and her guitar, her band left the stage for a portion of the concert and Page played a handful of songs acoustically.
Leading her band through an almost hour-long setlist at Rickshaw Stop, Page performed both new and old tracks, the most recent being from her newly released EP, “Bug.” “Bug,” which was released on all platforms on March 14, is an exploration of Page’s perspectives as she reflects on romantic relationships, her family and band.
“I originally considered calling the EP ‘Girlfriend,’” Page said in the interview with The Luna Collective. “But my boyfriend pointed out, ‘how many of these songs are actually about you being a girlfriend, and how many are just about you?’ and I realized he was right. So when we ended up with ‘Bug,’ it felt like a more fitting title.”
Songs like “Girlfriend” and “Break the Band Up” highlight the indie-pop-rock side of Page’s discography with building guitar tracks and catchy melodies, while “Bb” and “Prank Call” use more simple instrumentals and express a diary-like level of yearning.
The EP’s title track, “Bug,” refers to Page’s nickname given to her by her romantic partner. Written from the perspective of a loved one trying to figure out how she’s feeling, the soft song quieted the crowd as everyone’s full attention turned toward Page’s display of vulnerability.
Page also played older pop-rock, fan-favorite tracks like “4Runner” and “25,” the latter of which sits at the top of her discography with over one million plays on Spotify. Using the hit single to end the night, the crowd filled the small venue with a loud chorus of voices. Leaving fans buzzing, Page and her band filed off stage while tossing small plastic bugs out into the audience.
With two EPs and a handful of singles now under her belt, moving to larger venues for her second headline tour and gaining almost 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Page has solidified her fanbase and a name for herself in the indie-pop scene. A discography filled with songs perfect for channeling your nostalgia, reflecting on a breakup or dreaming about your current crush, Page’s sound is appealing to any and every ear.
Written by: Savannah Anno — [email protected]
