Since their 2024 SXSW breakout and US debut, Girl and Girl have been on our radar for exciting, upcoming bands that deliver on an engaging and energetic live show. The Aussie fourpiece opened for Naked Giants to a packed house at San Diego’s The Casbah on a cool Wednesday night last week.
Right off to bat, we were reminded of front-person Kai James’ captivating stage presence that feels both anxious and electrifying. Throughout the set, this intensity builds momentum. and James doesn’t waste time between songs. His interluding banter with the crowd feels intentional and doesn’t miss a beat. There’s a clear no-frills essence to the band and their show feels to-the-point with no wasted time. As a result, the 45-minute set flew by, drawing in new fans from the (mostly) college-aged crowd there to see Naked Giants. By the end of the set, the crowd’s attention was grabbed and a crazy light show lit the final song’s breakdown, sealing the set as one to be long unforgotten.
Girl and Girl’s show is a reminder of what it’s like seeing a non-pretentious rock band that is there to deliver on a show and make the crowd move. The most impressive thing was how tight they were throughout the entire set – something that often feels lost in today’s musical landscape. Kai James, backed by his Aunty Liss on the drums, and longtime friends Jayden Williams on lead guitar and Fraser Bell on bass, showed their incredible musicianship as a whole. While the band play energetic and fun music, their chemistry as a collective takes them to the next level where you feel the kinship from the crowd. It explains why Girl and Girl are able to balance serious topics in their music with a fun delivery. With the type of music and performance they are delivering on, they seem poised for an under the radar until they breakthrough type of career arc.
Check out the photo gallery from The Casbah below:
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