Noah Cyrus closed out her “I Want My Loved Ones to Go With Me” tour in Phoenix, Arizona, and I need to talk about it: this was one of the most enjoyable concerts I’ve attended this year. The show felt like sitting around a campfire with your favorite people while someone strums a guitar and Granddad tells stories of times past. Featuring a set list stacked with almost every song off the new record, we the people of the desert were treated to a taste of Tennessee.
Noah invited the adorable Gabrielle Hope to open for her, and the audience was enamored with her southern charm and girlish giggles. She won over the crowd when she joked about how she asked her sister what she thought of her outfit, to which she said she looks like an Amish girl– the crowd chuckling in response. Originally from Noah’s same home state of Tennessee, Gabrielle introduced many of us in attendance to something called “Appalachian shape note singing.” You’re likely wondering what in the world that is, and truthfully, to get the full idea, you’ll just need to listen to the clip below. It’s different than what most of us are used to listening to, and perhaps the audience was a bit confused at first, but they quickly warmed up. She messed up a few times but played it off with that lovable grin, mentioning that she was nervous. Seeing the audience’s faces, they were understanding and were grinning back in encouragement. Our hearts were softened to hear Noah next.
Photos by Brittany Lee
Moss-covered boulders adorned the stage and Noah’s mic was decorated with sprigs and leaves. The vibe was giving “enchanted forest” vibes, and the scene was beautifully set for a night of storytelling through music. Noah appeared through a haze of fog, holding out a lantern and gracefully making her way to the mic as the audience cheered.
Photos by Brittany Lee
“I Saw the Mountains,” the first song on her latest album, was up first, followed by the second song on the album, “Don’t Put It All on Me.” These are easily two of the strongest songs on the record and were great choices to start her set. The album was released in July of this year, so fans had time to learn the lyrics. Many sang with her, but most of the audience seemed content to observe the natural power of Noah’s voice. She strikes a gorgeous balance between her velvety lower range and her ability to belt out in her upper vocal range. With a sultry vibrato, the control she has with her voice is hypnotizing. Her vocal tone is bold and rich, and her performances are full of emotion. People of all ages were there, and I spotted quite a few mothers there with their young daughters, which was heartwarming to see.
Her newest songs offer themes that touch on the ups and downs of life, growing up, and the struggles of finding herself and her own unique sound as a member of the well-known Cyrus family. The vulnerability in her songs translates beautifully to her on-stage performance, with her demeanor appearing somewhat serious, yet playful at times. Noah gives the impression that she is unapologetically herself, and the quiet confidence she exudes with her stage presence is refreshing and draws the audience in.
It's hard to describe which genre her music falls into. Some of her songs lean heavily into her Tennessee roots with some hints of steel guitar reminiscent of old-school country, while other songs lean more into folk, rock, and gospel influences. Overall, her concert felt well-rounded, and the set list flowed effortlessly from song to song. At no point was I confused about what she was going for, because with every song, pieces of Noah’s personality shined through in different ways. By the end of the concert, it felt like we got to know her as a person through her music, which was something I hadn’t experienced in previous shows I attended this year.
Noah and her band have great chemistry, cracking jokes with each other and grinning at times. There were a couple of small technological hiccups. At one point the fog machine got to be a bit much, and Noah quipped a joke about how she couldn’t even see some of her band members through the haze, coughing and laughing between words and earning the audience’s laughter as well. It just added to the overall “humanness” of the night.
Photos by Brittany Lee
I’ve personally never been to Tennessee, but I got a good idea of what it might be like from this show. Good-natured, honest, genuine human connection was the general feeling I got, and the music made me feel like I was sitting on my relatives’ porch, enjoying conversation and the slowness of country life. It might have been a bit of an adjustment for some of us desert city folk who thrive on the fast-paced and somewhat disconnected lifestyle we tend to lead, but I walked out feeling like I was part of a larger, wholesome collective. A beautiful way to wrap up a tour.
“I Want My Loved Ones to Go With Me” is available now on all platforms.
