Coming back with a homecoming show to the Troubadour two years after her first headliner tour, King Mala brings the sold-out crowd on a spiritual journey.
Julia Cooper kicked off the night with infectious charisma. While the crowd may have started off a bit reserved, it didn’t take long for her impressive vocals to win them over. Her songs might not rely on overly complex lyrics, but their relatability and the overall fun and light vibe made the audience have a good time.
Next up was Dezi, introduced by her girlfriend—one of the night’s cohosts. True to the nickname she gives herself in one of her songs, “Pocket Rocket,” Dezi was an absolute force on stage. Even while wearing a tight corset, she powered through impressive vocal runs and brought an explosive energy to the room. She had full command of the audience, leading them through the fiery, rage-filled chants directed at the current government, turning the set into both a performance and a protest.
Finally, it was time for King Mala, and the anticipation was building in the air like a thick fog. As the lights dimmed, a wave of loud cheers erupted from the crowd. Mala’s voice echoed through the venue, welcoming everyone to "the church" and asking them to flip over the custom booklets handed out earlier so they could follow along with the program. When she stepped onto the stage, she was welcomed with an even louder cheer and, wasting no time at all, launched into "Possession."
Dressed in a lacy, babydoll-style dress and sheer cover-up, Mala eased into what she called her "lover girl songs," some performed in stripped-down versions that let the meaning of the words shine through even more. The emotion was strongly felt behind every lyric, personal yet somehow universally relatable.
After the brief emotional detour, King Mala announced, “Now that we’re done with the earlier tracks and the emotional ones, let’s get a little evil.” As if to mark the shift in tone, she dramatically stripped off her dress to reveal a matching latex set underneath. The crowd was all in, matching her energy and going along with the switch-up.
King Mala appeared to be the creative force behind the entire evening, with every detail reflecting the care and love poured into bringing the show to life. As she mentioned during the night, everyone present in the venue played a role in some way in the creation of her new album: Julia lent her vocals to the outro, Dezi contributed to co-writing, and one of the evening’s co-hosts even served as an executive producer on the project.
After joking that she won't come back for the encore no matter how loud the fans cheer, King Mala returned and joined the people in the pit. As she walked through the crowd, she was making eye contact with each fan, truly connecting to her audience and giving them an unforgettable moment.
With this being only her second headlining tour, it’s exciting to imagine what King Mala will bring next; she’s clearly just getting started.
