Eliza McLamb @ Sinclair 3/20

Photography by Bridget Quinn

Review by  Ava Wiseley

Spring wasn’t the only thing that began on Friday, March 20 — singer-songwriter Eliza McLamb also kicked off “The Good Story Tour” at The Sinclair in Cambridge.

McLamb, who is also a popular Substack writer and co-host of the podcast Binchtopia, released her sophomore album “Good Story” in October. Against an indie-rock sound, the lyrics explore themes of memory and storytelling.

The night began with a set from Florida-based country rock band Oldstar. Frontperson Zane McLaughlin, who revealed they’re also McLamb’s catsitter, gained the support of the audience by making a series of awkwardly funny and sometimes almost self-deprecating jokes — they noted that the stage was the “tallest stage [they’d] been on.”

After Oldstar, North Carolina native McLamb came out and jumped wordlessly into “Better Song,” the first track on “Good Story.” 

Next was “Suffering,” one of the record’s lively singles. Fans sang along enthusiastically and their dedication was clear from the beginning. As the first chords of “Glitter” were played — a track from her first record, “Going Through It,” released in 2024 — a fan exclaimed “Oh my God!”

McLamb seemed a bit nervous at first, not speaking much. Her shyness was endearing and her presence felt sincere, laid-back. In a similar manner, the lighting was warm and colorful for most of the show. She even sported her own merch: a pink tank top with a lamb and her name on it. In between songs she sipped from a pastel Owala water bottle.

McLamb seemed to become more comfortable on stage as the night progressed. She said that the show was her third time playing Sinclair and that it had been her first “big” show back in 2023. She recalled entering the space and not believing she’d booked it.

Despite McLamb not being as talkative as her opener, it was still clear that she and the audience were connecting. During “Strike,” a slower, melancholic tune from “Going Through It,” a fan teared up and their friend put an arm around them. McLamb noticed the interaction and smiled, seeming touched.

Later on in the set, during “Modern Woman,” another track from her first record, McLamb sang “Sad girl sings a simple song,” and then pointed her microphone at the audience for them to reply with, “All the others sing along.” Shortly after that lyric, she and the audience cathartically let out screams, replicating the recorded version.

While McLamb played quite a few older tunes, she also made sure to play every song from “Good Story.” She transitioned between the albums seamlessly, especially “Strike” into the poppy “Forever, Like That.” 

After “Water Inside The Fence,” during which the lights flashed red and created a darker atmosphere than the other songs, she transitioned again into the slower “Talisman.”

Being the first night of the tour, there were bound to be a few mishaps, but McLamb handled them with grace. For example, she sang the wrong words to “Talisman,” admitting her mistake casually. Later, she got confused about the setlist, mentioning how she’d changed it right before the show. Her guitarist had to swap instruments, and she joked that he’s “paid to deal with [her].”

After the upbeat “Every Year,” McLamb stepped off stage and then returned for an encore, which she said she thinks is “silly,” but “loves it.”

Her first encore song was a debut of something she wrote not long ago. Called “Mystic,” she said it was inspired by recent reading on mysticism, a spiritual belief associated with the occult. The song had a slightly darker melody, almost like one by Soccer Mommy. But instrumentally, it fits right in with “Good Story.” Perhaps she’ll release an extended edition of the record soon.

McLamb then played “Mythologize Me,” her top song on Spotify, which fans jumped along to.

Before her final song of the night, “Getting Free” — the last track on “Good Story” — she subtly acknowledged the current political state of the world. She said she’s been thinking about freedom a lot lately, and how it’s not always given but is always worth fighting for. The audience expressed their agreement through cheers and applause.

McLamb’s set ended with her appreciation for her audience made clear. A song or two before the end, she reiterated how important Sinclair is to her. After her final song, she handed her setlist to a fan in the front row.

Ultimately, although her stage presence was reserved and there were some opening night kinks to work out, McLamb delivered a touching and dynamic performance. 

She’ll be back in Massachusetts on April 23, playing Northampton’s Iron Horse Music Hall. If you missed her Boston show, have access to a car or are fond of long bus rides, the trek out west would be worthwhile.