To finish off 2023, the LA-based bedroom pop duo Kat and Andi of Bubble Tea and Cigarettes held their last performance of the year at Brick & Mortar Music Hall in San Francisco. A large audience, comprised of many fans clad in black and leather, eagerly awaited the band’s appearance for a dreamy, cinematic, and melancholic night.

Xinxin, a Californian jazz-grunge and alternative R&B quartet, began the show with a marvelous performance, with prominent electric bass and strong vocals that were the catalyst for an energetic night. The band gathered much support from the audience as they revealed it was their first time ever in San Francisco. With light chatting in between, Xinxin seamlessly transitioned between songs, playing many unreleased songs like “If You're Down,” “Four of Swords,” and “Fallen.” The set ended on a wholesome note as they pointed out family and friends within the audience to round off their last song.

Following Xinxin’s set, the stage became dimmer. The moment Bubble Tea and Cigarettes came on stage, the crowd bursted out in a huge roar of applause. As soon as the band finished setting up, a long line of stage lights were triggered. In fact, it was mentioned that these lights were their own and were brought along to other shows. The lighting could only be described as ethereal and dreamlike. Along with the hazy atmosphere, the scattered light emphasized each member’s silhouette and added to the beauty and mysteriousness of the figures. With the lights on, it only took one strum of the guitar to make the crowd go wild.

Bubble Tea and Cigarettes began their set by playing their latest single “Emi.” Each member of the band had a great talent for blending and balancing the tones of their instruments together. Whisper notes were sent forth from the dark figures, creating an elegant and ethereal aura.

The vibe of the venue was surreal. It was as calming as floating above a stagnant pool of water. As people were swaying side-to-side, tears were shed because of the band’s soft instrumentation. The night was undoubtedly a very intimate experience for the audience. With people only a step away from being on stage, it felt as if the band were playing in a room full of close friends.

After a brief introduction, soothing melodies continued to reverberate throughout the music hall. Transitioning from the previous song, Andi spoke to the audience, “You guys might know this one. It’s ‘5AM Empanada with You.’” The venue echoed with cheers, once again. The crowd was very excited to hear Bubble Tea and Cigarettes’ most popular song. Unsurprisingly, their thirst for music was quenched by the band’s calming tunes.

The band took another moment to ask how the audience was doing. With wholesome small talk going back and forth between the audience and the band, Bubble Tea and Cigarettes announced that they were going to play their final song of the night, “Happiness.” Immediately, you could notice the powerful emotions flowing from the crowd as they softly sang along. As the sound of the instruments softened, the silence was quickly replaced with a grand applause from the audience.

Bubble Tea and Cigarettes showed their thanks to everyone that attended the show, especially since it was a successful and heartfelt conclusion to their string of shows for 2023. The band joined hands and did one final bow before they stepped off the stage. To make this night even more memorable, they stood by the merch table so that fans had the chance to talk and hang out with them. Truly, Bubble Tea and Cigarettes made this a night to remember.

How would you describe Bubble Tea and Cigarettes’ music? Let us know by leaving a comment below or by reaching out on Instagram or X (Twitter)!

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Edited by: Neyha Naveed