REVIEW: Lauren Spencer Smith Brings The Art of Being a Mess Tour to The Fillmore in San Francisco
GALLERY
GALLERY
☆ PHOTOS BY ELIJAH CLOWER ☆
LAUREN SPENCER SMITH MADE HER STOP IN SAN FRANCISCO Originally booked for The Masonic, the show was moved down to the smaller Fillmore, and while the production she brought was designed with bigger stages in mind, it still translated well. The set design had an intentional visual weight to it that gave the night a sense of occasion, something that didn't get lost in the venue change.
What was never in question was the voice. Lauren Spencer Smith sounds incredible live — the kind of performer where the recording almost undersells what she can do in a room. Her control, her range, her ability to sit inside a moment and let it breathe — it all came through clearly from start to finish. Songs from The Art of Being a Mess hit with the emotional directness you'd hope for, and her catalog of earlier cuts landed just as well, with the crowd singing back every word like they'd been waiting for this show for a long time.
The connection between her and the audience was real throughout. She has a natural warmth onstage that makes the room feel smaller in the best way — even with a production built for larger spaces, the night never felt cold or oversized. It felt personal. There's an artist-to-fan energy she carries that doesn't seem manufactured, and the crowd responded accordingly, fully locked in from the jump.
Sofia Camara opened the night and set a solid tone heading into the headline set. By the time Lauren took the stage, the room was ready and she delivered.If you haven't caught her live yet, don't wait too long to find out what that looks like up close.
