Writing and Photos by David Williams | Live May 21st at the Empty Bottle

Sometimes less is actually more, especially in the case of Miss Grit’s dynamic live performance. The New York-based artist, also known as Margaret Sohn, only needs a guitar, a pedal, and a projector to mesmerize the sold-out Empty Bottle crowd on May 21st. Sohn came on my radar after her daring debut record, Follow the Cyborg, a concept album about a machine’s journey to “awareness & liberation.” The main subject of the science fiction story was fifty percent human, fifty percent machine, but the music was one hundred percent enthralling.

Now, Sohn is touring off her latest album Under My Umbrella, which was released earlier this year. The songs feel like a truer version of herself, not singing from the perspective of a cyborg, but one that embraces being human. Shedding her robotic cloak gives Sohn the freedom to show the world just how real her talent appears to be.

The songs from Under My Umbrella vibrated throughout the set. Sohn’s voice is truly stunning in person and captured the attention of the audience from the jump. The live songs captured the intricate and delicate details as on the album, engineered by Sohn’s longtime collaborator Aron Kobayashi Ritch from the band Momma fame.

Miss Grit delivered a brooding performance jam-packed with fuzzy electric guitar shredding, glistening techno beats, and all served to display her dynamic songwriting. Being an opener, you’re most times behind the eight ball in trying to keep the focus on your performance. Sohn displayed the poise, confidence, and overall skill set of a performer that won’t be opening for many acts going forward. A star is on the horizon, waiting to be born.

Check out our gallery of photos from Miss Grit’s set in front of a sold-out Empty Bottle crowd.

Listen to Under My Umbrella out now.