RECAP: Samia at Los Angeles’ Fonda Theater
Photo Courtesy of Erika Lyijynen
FONDA THEATER | LOS ANGELEES, CA | SEPTEMBER 11, 2025
Last Friday, Samia hit The Fonda stage for the second leg of her BLOODLESS Tour, proving to be an unstoppable force when it comes to live shows once again. The singer-songwriter performed an exceptionally sharp rendition of her third album, Bloodless, giving a masterclass in powerfully controlled vocal work paired with emotionally charged lyricism. She’s the kind of artist you’ll listen to in person, and then go home to solely listen to her discography for two weeks straight. It’s just that moving.
Caught by the sweet surprise of “Triptych” off her debut album, The Baby, as the opening number for the night, the room erupted in cheers at the first few chords of the revered track. We didn’t stay here for long, however, diving headfirst into the Bloodless universe with intimate, lyrical bleeds like “Dare” and “Proof” right after. Subtle wails for lines like “When I touched you, I felt the current of your dare / I think you wanted me to feel it / Because you know we’re the same” struck a chord that left the whole room in awe, a testament to Samia’s ability to bring new meaning to tracks in her soulful deliveries.
Sun-drenched numbers like “Fair Game” and “Bovine Excision” served as punchy, upbeat interludes that brightly bounced along the venue’s high ceiling like a warm summer day. “This one’s about cows and where did the blood go,” she transitioned into for the latter. She’s become an expert at bringing carefree wit onto the stage, occasionally doing a little improv dance number to her dance-worthy instrumentals.
“Carousel” and “Kill Her Freak Out” from her sophomore album, Honey, felt the most cathartic, with the audience’s thunderous applause matching their vivacious energy perfectly. The reverb of the electric guitar in the second verse struck like an uppercut as Samia uttered, “You find solace in the horror / I hear your heart beat for Florida.”
The stage setup involved nothing more than just the band, a single lamp with no shade, and a camping chair, and frankly, that’s all we needed. Accompanied by Ned French on the bass, Noah Rauchwerk on the drums, and Boon Wallace and Darryl Rahn on guitars, it’s no wonder the chemistry was palpable that evening. Each person on stage moved with fluidity to create a show that brought a poignancy to every note on the album. You suddenly could hear the twangy guitars on “Craziest Person,” or the intensity of the drum kicks on “Fit and Full” with excitement and attentive ears that normally comes upon hearing a song for the first time.
“This is our last song. You shan’t see me again after this. And we’re not gonna play “Pool,”” Samia cheekily declared into the mic. It’d be criminal to end the night without the longtime favorite, and the buzzing found in the crowd’s response suggested complete agreement.
“This song is about when you buy a pair of pants and you wonder who you are,” she then remarked before “Pants.” “Am I missing something? / Who was I when I bought these pants?” fueled the flame for an existential spiral, where Samia becomes obsessively aware of her identity–– a subject matter that clearly resonated with the room, which fell into a silent trance. By the time “Pool” and “Is There Something In The Movies” rolled around, everyone’s eyes were fixed on center stage for the remainder of the encore.
Ending the night with the climax of “Honey,” which could have easily passed as the kickoff for the setlist, but sat perfectly at the end. “Got a good feeling about this weekend / Do you wanna go to Baby’s?” she inquires, before roping the audience into a fit of “It’s all honey” chants.
A seasoned performer like Samia never disappoints. Contrary to her lyrics in “Charm You,” we’re surely charmed by her commanding confidence and are dreaming of witnessing her on a festival run soon. She’s already slotted for Coachella next year, and the sky’s the limit. Glastonbury or Lollapalooza, perhaps?
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