Fox Theater in Oakland, CA — September 30, 2024

Griff Washburn, better known by his music alias Goth Babe, brought the Lola Tour to Fox Theater in Oakland, CA. Since 2015, Goth Babe has been creating fuzzy, alt-rock guitar-driven music much of which is written on his sailboat and namesake of the tour. Over the years, Goth Babe has cultivated a strong fanbase and they were in full force ready for the night. Emerging onstage to “Spinmaker Days” before diving into fan favorite “Moments/Tides,” Goth Babe was a site to behold as he stormed the stage in a burst of energy and sound. It’s hard not to get lost in watching Washburn’s charismatic stage presence in tandem with the warm sounds of Goth Babe. The connection he had with the audience was astounding as he invited one lucky fan to crowd surf on an inflatable during “Casita” and created a friendly dance competition between the two halves of the theater. Each song was delivered with an intensity that had the crowd locked into every word. It all burst forward with joy as beach balls descended from the rafters and bounced around the audience in the pit below. As the night drew to a close, there’s no denying the power of the night’s final track “Weekend Friend.” The song was highly anticipated by the crowd and was well received. After noticing a fan dancing and singing along to every word, Washburn invited them onstage to dance and with confetti raining down at the climax of the last chorus – there was no better way to end the night.

Words & Photography: Sabrina Poei