The Aces North American Tour Was One for the Ages

Dec 16, 2021

MUD attended their sold out New York City concert held at Webster Hall, and let us tell you, it's worth all the hype.

The Aces are an American alternative pop band from Provo, Utah. The band has four members: guitarist Katie Henderson, bassist McKenna Petty, and sisters Alisa Ramirez and Cristal Ramirez. MUD Magazine covered their New York City concert at Webster Hall for the Under My Influence 2021 North American Tour. — Photography by Cristi Name (@cristigtzname)

If I could describe the feeling of watching The Aces live, I'd compare it to watching the birth of an electric storm. As it happens, you can't help but stare, mouth agape, as static energy cruises through you. Once it passes, you are well aware of the truth that no concert you attend after will ever be able to compare.

Listening to Under My Influence live provoked a series of these feelings and more on New York. But as personal and intimate this concert feels, it is also a shared experience that brought us back to pre-pandemic excitement. It's clear that The Aces were aware of how important live music has become after a year-long hiatus, and it was an incredible journey to see them deliver exactly what we were all craving.

The setlist was on fire. With iconic songs such as "Stuck" and "Daydream" there was never a still moment. While the majority of the set consisted on material from their latest album, the band also treated their fans to a select few songs from their prior album, When My Heart Felt Volcanic.

The four-piece girlband brought the best of themselves throughout the entire show. Lead vocalist and guitarist Cristal Ramirez is an icon. Guitarist Katie Henderson's energy is unmatched. Bassist McKenna Petty talent is electric. And Drummer Alisa Ramirez knows how to raise the bar with every single song.

When the room goes dark and the chants grow louder, a voice recording begins to play. Conversations like this one continue to be played throughout the concert as openers for some of their most iconic songs. It granted the atmosphere intimacy, even when Webster Hall was bustling with a crowd that never stopped singing and dancing. This voice recordings also came with live conversations. Cristal Ramirez has a gift when interacting the audience, and cares just as much about the sound of their music as she does about letting us into the meaning behind it.

My favorite part comes in the middle of the concert when Cristal opens up about her experience growing up queer in Utah. Through their music, The Aces seeks to celebrate the talent and joy, and also uplift the voices of queer women everywhere.

It's a great speech, one that reaches out to every single fan in the crowd, but it's also accompanied by action. For their two opening acts, The Aces brought on board Sawyer and Beaches as part of their vision to have all-female performers on their tour stage. This with the awe-inspiring lighting that sometimes takes the colors of the Pride flag, makes for an unique concert experience that no other artist or band has matched.

After The Aces wraps up their Under My Influencer tour in America this weekend, they will take a few months off the road. However, European fans won't have to wait long since the band will return to the stage, this time overseas, on March of 2022.

You can purchase tickets for The Aces here, and don't forget to follow the band on Instagram to stay up to date with tour information and new music.