Annie DiRusso’s Cathartic ‘Back In Town’ Tour in San Diego
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY SHELLSEA LOMELI ☆
Photo By Rhianna Hajduch
FOLLOWING THE ANTICIPATED RELEASE OF HER DEBUT ALBUM SUPER PEDESTRIAN - indie-rock singer-songwriter Annie DiRusso took the stage in San Diego, the 11th stop on the Back In Town world tour.
Just above downtown, the grungy demeanor and restricted capacity of the Casbah made it an ideal spot to take in this gritty and cathartic record up close and personal. The venue’s intimate layout paired with Annie’s own charming stage presence was the perfect combination for removing the barrier between artist and audience that’s often present at shows. “This feels like a house show,” the artist pointed out happily after her opening song.
Annie truly pulled the audience into her world with each track, introducing nearly every one with an anecdote or explanation as her band set into place and she interchanged between acoustic and electric guitar.
A huge component of Annie DiRusso’s success so far is just how seen fans feel by her songwriting. It’s a balanced mix of raw vulnerability and dry humor, perfectly exemplified by “Legs.” It’s a song about confusing situationships and the desire to throw in the towel and say “I’ll give what I get”—the mental energy of wanting more isn’t worth it. The line “I’m scared of you, you’re scared of me,” is a very real analysis of the lack of clarity and communication given in modern day—if you can even call it romance.
The song “Emerson” is further evidence that this singer-songwriter does not hold back with her pen. There’s a part towards the end where she screams, evoking a cathartic release from listeners which was only heightened with its live performance as everyone in the audience screamed along. It’s a song about realizing that you can never escape yourself and all of the past versions of you will always exist.
Pushing her playfulness and humor to the background, Annie concluded the show with the hazy, final track on her album, “It’s Good To Be Hot In The Summer.” Paired with a distorted soundscape and slow-building tempo, the lyrics explore the idea of accepting the pain and discomfort from whatever life throws at you instead of coping through avoidance or numbness. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the only way out is through.
This final track brought on a noticeable energy shift in the crowd. The rowdiness that was once present quieted as Annie sang, “Don’t close your eyes, you’re a runner. But you can’t run away this time”—crashing sounds of percussion and heavy guitar riffs all coming together.
The Back In Town tour is one rooted in embracing female rage and facing life head on. As a rising artist racking up over 200K monthly streams on Spotify alone, the passionate community Nashville-based Annnie DiRusso has built around her catchy indie rock bangers completely translated to real life.
