K.Flay – MONO: Live in Stereo at Madame Lou’s

We were excited to catch K.Flay at Madame Lou’s as she’s been one of our favorite artists to see live. K.Flay’s live shows are known to be explosive; filled with high energy and motion. Kristine Flaherty was in town supporting her latest album, MONO, accompanied by a sold-out tour run called MONO: Live in Stereo. Flaherty chose to play small venues on this round to create an intimate setting getting as close as possible to her dedicated fans. It definitely has not been easy the last few years for the artist with the pandemic and going deaf in one ear after an viral infection but we’re so happy that she continued with her music and we received something so vulnerable and raw with MONO.

After a good opening set by Cam Kahin to a packed room it was time for K.Flay to take the stage. First her two touring members took their places and she followed dressed up in a boxer outfit which has been theme of the show. Wearing boxing shoes, boxing gloves, a boxing robe with the words The Punisher on the back, shorts that amplified Mono, and makeup of a bruised eye and broken nose, she was ready to defeat any obstacles that stood in her way.

Perhaps it was all code for all that she’s been through and getting to the other side, perhaps it’s what all of us are fighting every day, perhaps she just loves throwing punches and jumping in the air. We enjoyed it all.

The set kicked off with “Are You Serious?” “Raw Raw,” “Can’t Sleep,” and new single, “Carsick.” People were standing in the front row visibly trying to take everything going on in. Their eyes were glued to K.Flay and with every word she uttered they followed along with dedication. Flaherty stopped a few times to chat with her fans about life, obstacles, struggles, and most of all to give them hope no matter what they are going through.

Kristine even made a little two-page program for the night, specific to Seattle night one that was available at merch with a note card attached on the last page with the words, ‘to be burned,’ where people could write what they wanted to let go of. I think this was so thoughtful and original of her to put so much time in creating these programs and sharing them with her fans.

There was a collection box on the side where fans could drop the cards off and Flaherty shared that she would find a spot to burn them (safely) for us next few days and would go live so we could watch. I think her real power in connecting with folks is not by trying to hide problems and turbulence but to acknowledge they exist and that it sometimes sucks but there are better days coming. Perfect example, is singing about it in “FML.”

The set list was a good mix of 20 old and new songs and people very satisfied with the duration of the show. K.Flay did not hold back and didn’t leave much more to give as we could see the sweat dripping down her face and hair by the end. The night finished with intensity and passion as “Blood In The Cut,” “My Name Isn’t Katherine,” and “High Enough,” played on and we sang along.

K.Flay returned for an encore wearing her boxing robe and punching through the air for “Perfectly Alone,” as we took it all in for the last time. This was a show to remember as the intimate night came to an end. We absolutely love seeing her perform and it feels like she always finds new ways to bring herself closer to people and to captivate them year after year. Perhaps it’s because she’s so genuinely honest about her life, perhaps it’s the that she can articulate it so well in her lyrics, perhaps it’s the way she can express the struggles that do get better when you learn to hold on to all the good.