[ATTENDED: September 25, 2026] Chelsea Jade
I was so excited that The Beths were going to do this “all request” show. I imagined it might be an evening with them, where they play for 3 hours! But of course, that’s not what The Beths do. They like to elevate lesser known bands (I assume, that’s what they like to do). Today’s lesser known band was Chelsea Jade, who is apparently not lesser known in certain circles.
She is a South African-born New Zealand singer-songwriter and record producer based in Los Angeles. Vice has described her as New Zealand’s “Accidental Dream Pop Hero.” In 2017, she was nominated for New Zealand’s Silver Scroll Award for song of the year for her song “Life of the Party.”
So she’s been around for a while. And, it turns out she was a high school friend of Elizabeth Stokes of The Beths with whom she formed a small Folk trio, Teacups, to busk and get noticed.
Which might explain her fascinating stage show. She came out on stage with two (really bright) tint flashlights that she waved around the crowd (and pointed in our eyes a but too often). Music started and she slowly meandered into the audience. It was neat and audacious. She sang with the flashlights shining on her. For the second song she handed the lights to people in the audience who shone them on her (and may have kept the lights?)
For a couple more songs she walked to the wing of the audience area and stood on one of the platforms singing to the people over there. (more…)
