"La Vida Es Un Carnaval" by Celia Cruz blared through The Wiltern's speakers as the crowd hummed in anticipation of Gigi Perez's entrance. After a short tour across the country, Perez took the stage on Tuesday evening for her last date of the year in Los Angeles.
The concert began with opener Hannah Jadagu's three-piece band playing through her most popular tracks, including "My Love" and "Gimme Time," along with a handful of new songs. The band was made up of a drummer, a bassist and Jadagu herself playing guitar while singing. Between songs, Jadagu announced her new album, which dropped this Friday, entitled "Describe," which contains tracks she played like "Doing Now" and "Normal Today."
Lillian Avila, an audience member, came to the show for Perez but enjoyed Jadagu's set.
"I'm not familiar with [Jadagu's] music, but it's definitely something that I would listen to again," Avila said. "It's the type of music that I like to listen to, so I would definitely be interested in checking out more of the discography. I know she says she has an album coming out Friday, so I'd probably check that out, too."
After a brief break between sets, the curtain rose and revealed Perez and her six-piece band, all dressed in black western-inspired outfits, and they launched into their first song of the night, "Please Be Rude."
The setlist continued with popular hits like "Sometimes (Backwood)" and "Chemistry," as well as a few duets. Her band, decked out in silver studs and cowboy boots, switched from instrument to instrument: the bassist playing keys for a song and the guitarist switching to an electric acoustic for "Arms" with Blondshell, who Perez said she had been a fan of since 2023.
Jadagu also returned to the stage for a duet cover of "Video Games" by Lana Del Rey. Perez's sister, Isabella, joined her onstage for "Sugar Water."
"Tonight is a night of artists," Perez said, referring to her collaborations.
Perez brought in an almost country-esque, folksy sound for "Sleeping," all on acoustic guitar with support from the band. Then, the band left Perez alone on the stage for "Fable," which she performed in the spotlight with her acoustic guitar.
Perez then got vulnerable with the crowd before playing her album's titular song, "At The Beach, In Every Life," discussing writing the piece and the grief of losing her sister, Celene, defining the song as "a moment of glitter" in the sadness.
"I think about the young girl that I was then, trying to navigate something that nothing can prepare you for," Perez said to the packed venue. "Navigating my early twenties and navigating a career in music and what that looked like, getting to the bottom of it took years."
One concert attendee, Haley Peczon, said her decision to attend was spur-of-the-moment.
"I literally saw it on my TikTok today at work. Someone was prepping their fit, and I was like, 'Oh, my God. No way. I love Gigi Perez,'" Peczon said. "So then I looked it up online, and I was like, 'It's tonight. Let's go.'"
Some concertgoers did not know Perez well -- attendee Star Mahyari came simply to enjoy live music.
"I know of [Perez's] music, but I'm not a fan. [My friend] was like, 'You want to go to a concert?' And I was like, 'Fuck it, sure,'" Mahyari said. "So it was a very last-minute decision. I love live music in general, so I don't mind if I don't know an artist. I'm just down for music and the vibes."
Avila said she has been a fan of Perez's since the release of "Sailor Song," Perez's most popular track, which went viral on TikTok in 2024 before it was fully written.
"I saw Gigi Perez perform with Hozier when they played in Lake Tahoe, and I've been following her since 'Sailor Song' came out, when 'Chemistry' came out. I was super into the music," Avila said. "I was still getting into it, waiting for the album to drop, and it was a super impulsive decision to come and see her [tonight], because I initially hadn't planned to."
Perez has spoken about the role of queerness and other queer artists in her life and songwriting. In an interview with The New York Times, she said that artists like Hayley Kiyoko and Troye Sivan saved her life.
"[I'm excited to] see her play and seeing all the gay people here," Peczon said.
After a stacked setlist the audience knew and sang along to, Perez closed the show with "Sailor Song."