Heaven Sent and Stage Ready with Molly Grace

Kelsey
Jul 1
4 min read

By: Rachel Catherine

On Monday, June 23, I had the opportunity to work with Molly Grace shooting some pre-show portraits for the first time and shoot her set opening for Betty Who in Detroit, MI.

A quick introduction to Molly Grace. Molly is a Nashville-based, queer-pop singer/songwriter–she’s also referred to herself as a Pop-Funk Princess who identifies as a lesbian. She as a disco-styled artist creates music that are equal parts of heart, humor, and groove along with the dreamy, pop princess theatricals. A true musical theatre kid at heart I would say. She builds a safe and inclusive space during every performance. Now, let’s get into this review!

Molly is just wrapping up a summer tour, lighting up stages across the country as the opener for Betty Who on the Out of the Darkness tour and performing at a couple festivals. Molly Grace is truly a powerhouse singer that delivers performances with so much soul, joy, and authenticity behind each show. Her set was beyond phenomenal. From the moment she stepped on stage, you could feel her energy radiate throughout her entire performance, including her crowd work as well. Her bubbly and fun-loving personality just absolutely shined. She really brought her own version of ‘razzle dazzle’–along with Molly’s vocals, her “Lover Girls,” McKenna and Mary, you could feel their energy shining through as well. They delivered a set that felt so intimate and also fun–like you’re at a private, disco-pop themed party! All three of the girls’ harmonies blended together perfectly–so smooth, yet so strong.

Learning that the trio shared a background in show choir made perfect sense and as a fellow and former show choir kid myself, it was like a full-circle moment.

Before the show, I had the chance to meet Molly for a few pre-show portraits and had a chance to chat. Molly even showed me a matching tattoo she got with the Lover Girls, McKenna Hall and Mary Clark Webb, her best friends that she introduced me to who perform alongside her—proof enough that their bond runs so deep on and off stage. She also introduced me to her tour photographer, Bella Sgarlata. We took some really cute and fun photos in her green room and the bathroom. She’s quite photogenic. She told me it was her first time both visiting and performing in Michigan!

Throughout Molly’s set, I found myself singing along, tapping my foot, and smiling like a total dork from the photo pit and the back of the general admission crowd as I made my way around the venue. I was excited to hear two of my favorite songs of Molly’s including “F.E.M.M.E” and her latest release “Heaven Sent”—both absolute bops in their own ways. But you could imagine the crowd’s excitement when she covered Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”–what a classic. It was impossible not to want to sing along. She even hinted at her next single, so exciting! And in a later moment during her set that made me laugh out loud, Molly told a story about how before she came out, she grew up crushing on all the musical theatre/tenor boys in choir and would hit their line. I’ve never related to anything more in my life because I used to do the same back in high school when I was in show choir.

The ensemble that Molly along with the Lover Girls, Mary and McKenna were absolutely stunning! Molly wore a gorgeous sequined dress that had a feathered skirt that just screamed Sharpay Evans to me–or even Fashionista Barbie. McKenna and Mary wore matching pink, bubble hem, babydoll dresses. It felt very vintage, Barbie-core. The girls all looked so pretty on stage, the outfits went together perfectly.

I got to meet Molly again after the show at her merch table, I bought a hat before the show that I asked her to sign before we took a photo. Let me tell you: she is just as warm and sweet in person as she presents herself on stage as well as on social media. That kind of authenticity she shows is so rare in the world we live in. She just has that personality and kindness that you wish the rest of the world had, it’s refreshing. As much as I enjoy the studio recordings of her music, I thought she sounds even better performing live. It’s always something about live performances that you get to feel an artist’s authenticity in real time and live with your own ears. It even creates core memories and that night was truly a core memory that I will never forget. Molly was just so kind. Have you ever had a show that was just so good or just met someone that’s so incredibly kind that you could cry? Molly did just that.

Molly Grace is the kind of artist who will make you feel like you are a part of something special and that you are welcome and accepted into her community. She deserves every ounce of love and support that comes her way. She is without a doubt, just one of the sweetest human beings and brightest talents I have ever come across. Molly Grace is definitely an artist you will want to see live if you ever get the chance. I know I’m really glad that I had the chance to experience one of her live performances myself and be a part of it.

Check out the full gallery from the show: