While the Basement East didn't plan a Halloween costume, it slowly morphed into the Lipstick Lounge when welcoming guests for the "Blush Tour." This tour is Nashville singer-songwriter Molly Grace's first headlining series since releasing her debut album at the end of September. Grace attended Belmont University after moving to Nashville from Massachusetts. Winning the school's Best of the Best Showcase in 2024 earned her a spot on the Who Stage at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival right after graduation. She then released "F.E.M.M.E" as a single in January after being signed to Nettwerk Music Group, further taking her talents from college and into the world (especially the internet). The lead single from "Blush" came out in March: "Mad At Her Forever." Part of what made Grace such a standout on stage is her ability to bend a crowd to her will, and her hometown stood no chance against her power.
By the time Molly Grace and her backing vocalists sang a verse in three-part harmony, every light turned pink for the next hour. The trio stayed in perfect sync throughout the hours with choreography seismic enough to shake the Beast's small stage (what locals call the Basement East). Grace's vocals glided perfectly over bombastic instrumentation on "Soprano," "Heaven Sent" and "Lemonade." The crowd also grew to want more of her as the show went on, with screams increasing after each set. But Grace gave over some of the spotlight in her cover slot. Her friend and fellow Belmont alum, Mary Clark Webb, sang a rendition of Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" while she accompanied on guitar. The jury is in: she had fans blushing all the way home. The tour will conclude at the end of November in Seattle, Washington, just in time to ring in the holiday season.
- Ria Skyer
Photos Courtesy of Drew Noble (For Bell Music Magazine)
