King Princess – Girl Violence Hits Seattle

King Princess brought raw energy and unapologetic authenticity to Showbox SoDo, delivering a night that felt equal parts chaotic and cathartic. The stage opened with “Cherry,” framed by a graffiti-covered backdrop that set the tone for the Girl Violence Tour—a visual echo of the album’s rebellious spirit. From the start, KP’s connection with Seattle was palpable. “Hello, Seattle! I can tell this is going to be a good one—you got this,” she declared before introducing her latest record: “I released an album called Girl Violence and we’ll play a few songs from that record. This one’s called “I Feel Pretty.”

For those unfamiliar, King Princess—born Mikaela Straus—first broke through in 2018 with the viral hit “1950,” a queer anthem that cemented her as a bold new voice in pop. Since then, she’s released three albums, each pushing boundaries of identity and sound. Her newest project, Girl Violence, is her most fearless yet: a 35-minute surge of raw emotion, blending jagged pop hooks with confessional lyrics that explore desire, heartbreak, and self-discovery. Critics have called it her most “feral” and unfiltered work to date, and live, its chaotic energy translates into a visceral experience.

The set unfolded with a mix of new tracks and fan favorites, punctuated by playful banter and moments of intimacy. After “Girls,” KP challenged the crowd: “You have what it takes to be the loudest of the Girl Violence tour. How loud can you be?” The room erupted in screams, proving Seattle was ready to claim that title. Between songs, she shared snippets of her day—”This is Lily and we went to the aquarium today”—introducing her guitarist before playing “Covers.” At one point, she teased, “I heard a rumor about Seattle… Seattle loves cats??” The crowd’s roar confirmed it, and KP laughed: “Okay, it seems true—check that off.”

The energy surged during “Cheap Queen,” then softened as KP picked up her guitar for a stripped-down rendition of “Alone Again.” She reflected on the challenge of curating a setlist from three albums and 45 songs, introducing a playful twist: “So we invented the dice! Charlie, bring out the dice!” Each side of the giant dice bore a song title, and the roll landed on “Ain’t Together,” adding spontaneity to the night. Between songs, KP grew reflective: “I can’t tell you what it means to be here in Seattle. I’ve been touring since I was 19, I believe it was at the Crocodile. I still remember the first time: so sweaty and fun.”

King Princess also shared that not touring for two and a half years “Taught me how much this means to me as a person, and having your support is everything.” That gratitude segued into a nostalgic moment: “Thank you for being here, so I think it’s only fair we go back to the beginning,” before launching into “Talia,” a fan favorite that had the crowd singing every word.

The main set closed with “RIP KP,” but not before one of the tour’s most unique traditions: inviting a fan onstage to spray-paint the graffiti wall. “You’ll come and write Seattle on the wall—but please don’t do it as large as Salt Lake,” KP joked. The chosen fan added Seattle’s mark among the cities already immortalized, creating a tangible memory of the night. A long instrumental outro carried the show into its final moments before KP returned for an encore, leaving the audience buzzing with the sense that they had witnessed something deeply personal and wildly fun.

The encore was pure catharsis. KP kicked it off with the biting, self-aware anthem “I Hate Myself, I Want to Party,” a track that perfectly encapsulates the album’s chaotic honesty. Then came the moment fans had been waiting for: “1950,” the song that started it all, turning the venue into a massive sing-along. Finally, she closed the night with “Ohio,” a slow-burning, emotional farewell that left the crowd swaying and satisfied. It was the perfect ending to a show that balanced vulnerability with unrelenting energy.

King Princess’s Seattle show was more than a concert—it was a celebration of identity, chaos, and connection. Girl Violence is her most fearless album yet, and on stage, its spirit came alive in every lyric, every laugh, and every spray-painted tag. For fans, this wasn’t just music; it was a shared manifesto of vulnerability and power.