Saturday night at Chickie Wah Wah felt exactly how a New Orleans show should. The room was hot, packed, and buzzing before the first note, and Belle and Chain stepped into it without missing a beat.

 

Spencer Grammar held the room with ease. Her background as an actress comes through in the best way, adding intention to every movement without feeling overdone. She stayed fully present from start to finish, moving through each song with a kind of confidence that drew people in naturally. The sparkly red microphone caught the light all night and somehow became part of the performance itself, a small detail that made her presence even more striking.

 

Davis brought a steady, confident energy that grounded the set. Having toured with Barns Courtney and spent last year on the road with The Struts, his experience shows. His playing felt relaxed but intentional, the kind of stage presence that comes from time spent doing it night after night.

 

As a band, Belle and Chain feel like they’ve really settled into who they are. There’s a strong sense of identity in their sound and the way they carry themselves on stage. Nothing feels uncertain. It comes across as a group that has put in the time, figured things out, and is now fully stepping into it.

 

They’re currently opening for Barns Courtney on his Unplugged Solo Acoustic Sessions tour, and it fits naturally. Their sound translates well in a more stripped-back setting, where the focus shifts to performance, tone, and connection with the room. It gives them the space to lean into those details, and they use it well.

 

The set carried a steady energy from beginning to end. The heat, the crowd, and the closeness of the room all added to it. People stayed engaged, moving with the music, reacting to the small moments as much as the big ones. It felt immersive in a way that made the night pass quickly, the kind of show you look up from and realize it’s already over. It was a strong reminder of how good live music can feel in a room like that.