Following the breakout online success of her single “Thinking ’bout You,” Stella Lefty is taking her raspy vocals and genre-blurring country-pop sound from phone screens to stages across the country. On April 1, she joined Cameron Whitcomb on his “Fragile Egos Tour” for a night in Boston.
Dressed in just the right mix of camo, flannel, and western wear, the crowd settled into the House of Blues, while anyone feeling underdressed gravitated toward the merch line wrapping around the venue.
Once drinks were in hand and anticipation filled the room, Stella stepped onstage in a silk slip, oversized collared shirt, and cowboy boots. Like her music, the look blurred stylistic lines into something distinctly her own.
After confessing her love for Boston and hinting she might one day call it home, Stella delivered a stripped-back set backed only by guitar, pedal steel, and banjo. There was no elaborate backdrop or lighting, just Stella Lefty, unedited, much like her online presence.
Among the highlights was her aptly timed song “Boston,” released less than a week earlier, which interpolates “Stick Season” by New Englander, Noah Kahan. She also treated the crowd to a cover of “The Climb” in honor of “Hannah Montana’s” 20th anniversary. By the chorus, the entire room joined in, “It’s the cliiiimb,” singing in unison.
Between songs, Stella took time to briefly chat to the audience and even shared a two-step or two, giving the set a warm and laid-back feel.
She closed with the track that first put her on so many listeners’ radar: “Thinking ’bout You.” The moment she sang, “Swear I’m not trying to, can’t help but thinking ’bout you,” even those lingering at the bar turned back toward the stage, singing along to the song that’s been stuck in everyone’s head.
If her Boston set was any indication, Stella Lefty is an artist commanding attention both online and on stage. Settling into her stride as a live performer, her vocals and relatable lyrics show an artist with real promise. She heads into a busy summer with her first headline shows at The Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles on May 13 and Mercury Lounge in New York City on May 19, followed by tour stops with Tucker Wetmore and Myles Smith, and festival appearances at Osheaga and Lollapalooza.
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Scroll through the gallery below for photos of both Stella Lefty and Cameron Whitcomb’s sets.
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.