Dolphin balloons. Boxing matches. Bubble guns. Plastic pig masks. Hula hoops.
That’s just a sample of the delightful craziness Gelli Haha brought to Schubas Tavern on Saturday night. It was less of a concert and more of an adorable circus, immaculately choreographed with bright colors and a nonstop party atmosphere.
Since releasing her debut album Switcheroo last year, Gelli Haha—stage name of Angel Abaya—has built a following through relentlessly quirky videos and her distinctive style. If you can watch the trippy videos for "Klouds Will Carry Me to Sleep" and "Bounce House" without smiling, you might want to check if you still have a pulse.
Nothing about Haha’s performance was in any way conventional, and the show was all the better for it. Opening with a surreal “security breach” that led to the singer emerging from the audience, Haha, her backup dancers, and a drummer brought energy to the stage—even jumping around on trampolines—and to the captive audience, who got to toss those aforementioned dolphin balloons around while they weren’t being showered with confetti and clapping along with Haha’s catchy, distinct brand of music.
Haha was paired with a perfectly complementary opening act, the genuinely funny Liverpool-based brother/sister duo Big Sis. Their dance pop anthems—ranging from “Yay Yomes (I Took the Drugs and the Drugs are Working)” and “Oontz (I Fucked Your Mom)”—set the tone for a fun and eccentric evening that I can’t wait to experience again.
Did you enjoy this post? Please consider supporting Third Coast Review’s arts and culture coverage by making a donation. Choose the amount that works best for you, and know how much we appreciate your support!
