All week, whenever I told people I was seeing Eli at Le Poisson Rouge on Wednesday night, it felt like I was telling them I was going to see a friend perform. And in a way, it did feel like that. But in the same way artists like Cher or Beyoncé command the power of a single name, Eli already feels deserving of that kind of title.
Even though she only released her debut album Stage Girl on Halloween of last year, and recently began building her audience on TikTok, she has already sold out her first tour. The room at Le Poisson Rouge was packed, and there was an undeniable charge in the air. Everyone seemed to understand they were witnessing something early, Eli’s first official New York show, and the excitement of being present for what could very well be the rise of pop’s next true diva.
Though plenty of artists are tapping into the Y2K aesthetic right now, the way Eli approaches it feels specific and genuine. There is a sense of humor to it, but also a sincerity that makes the performance feel real rather than nostalgic cosplay. In that way, she reminded me a bit of Audrey Hobert, an artist who feels so completely herself on stage that you immediately think, “Oh, I know this girl.”
I brought along my best friend, writer and creator Kathryn Margaret Rose, my personal guiding light when it comes to all things Y2K and just plain good taste. Kat is, quite simply, a fashion queen, and she arrived wearing flare jeans stitched with colorful fabrics, something Eli herself could easily have worn. She fit right in with the crowd. Fans showed up dressed for the moment, glitter everywhere, turning the room into a sparkling celebration of pop.
Opening the night was Montez, whose sultry yet powerful performance immediately set the tone. Kat remarked that she reminded her of Kelela, smooth, atmospheric, and emotionally charged, with a stage presence that quietly commanded the room.
Eli’s set leaned heavily on “Stage Girl,” but the songs took on new life in the room. The stage itself felt like an extension of the album’s world, a cheeky “backstage” area set up behind her with a banner styled like the iconic American Idol voting sequence spelling out “Stage Girl.” It gave the whole performance a playful, meta sense of pop theater, like Eli was both the contestant and the star of her own pop competition.
She looked the part, too. Eli stepped on stage in a sequined purple dress paired with pink tights and black lace-up Converse, striking the perfect balance between pop diva and downtown cool. Her face, neck, and arms were dusted with glitter that caught every light in the room, giving her an almost holographic glow whenever she moved. Throughout the set, Eli showcased her impressive vocal chops while staying completely present with the crowd, delivering a performance that felt authentic, intimate, and alive in the room.
She opened with “Girl of Your Dreams,” immediately establishing the night’s tone, playful, self aware, and completely devoted to the craft of pop. The song has the kind of hook that instantly pulls the room in and makes you feel like you have known it forever.
From there, the set moved through “Stars (Lullabye),” “I Wish I Was a Girl,” and “Marianne,” each track revealing a different facet of Eli’s pop universe. “Fortunately 4 U” and “Somebody I’m Not” leaned into her sharper, more emotionally vulnerable songwriting, while “All at Once” and “Feel Your Rain” expanded the sound into something bigger and more theatrical.
The energy shifted again during “Falsetto” and “Like a Girl,” where Eli’s stage presence really took hold. By the time “Glitter” arrived near the end of the set, the entire room seemed fully locked in, dancing, singing along, and reflecting the sparkle radiating from the stage.
For the encore, Eli returned with the cheeky “iTouch (Da Da),” its melody knowingly echoing Mariah Carey’s Obsessed. Then she closed the night where it began, returning to “Girl of Your Dreams.” By that point, the crowd would have happily listened to the song five more times.
For Kat, the takeaway was simple, and honestly I have to leave you with her amazing review of the show. “Eli has such a clear devotion to the art of pop music,” she told me after we left the venue. “You can hear her influences from Prince to Mark Ronson, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, and Michael Jackson. That kind of songwriting ability, plus vocals, stage presence, and a sense of humor… mama, we are witnessing the beginning of a huge career.”
Eli’s tour continues next week in Toronto before heading to Chicago and then select dates on the West Coast. Stage Girl is out now.
Header image by Jonah Rosenberg for FADER.
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