All the Cool Queer Kids Are Singing About Their Religious Trauma and It’s So Healing
Written and Photo by Maggz
| Maddie Zahm is on her Everything All The Time tour with support from Semler and these intimate shows are an evening of community, vulnerability, and happy tears
Union Stage in Washington D.C. is a small, intimate venue in the basement level of the historic Wharf area and it filled up fast as Maddie Zahm concert ticket holders descended into the room. By the time the lights dimmed for Semler’s opening set, over half of the floor was filled and some fans stayed in line at the robust merch tables to snag a t-shirt or hat. Fans at the front of the stage who had VIP tickets and a chance to talk with Maddie before the show and share with her how her music had made an impact on their lives.
“One time someone asked me to stop writing songs about them being homophobic, so this song is what I wrote about them being homophobic,” Semler shared from the stage, introducing their song “Pipe Down,” garnering laughter and cheers from the crowd. The tone of Semler’s set is one of honesty, humor, and raw authenticity and something best enjoyed live.
Grace Baldridge makes music under the name Semler and has been making waves for years with tracks like “Pipe Down.” “Jesus From Texas” has lyrics like “These days I believe in Bigfoot more than God, because who is he hurting?” The D.C. stop welcomed Semler and their band for the first of many performances supporting Maddie Zahm. “I haven’t played a show in DC in years, but Maddie’s advocacy brings together so many people in such a unique way and I love being part of that,” Semler shared.
At one point between songs, when Semler was getting sentimental and sharing about inspiration behind their songs, guitarist Tyler started playing what they referred to as “church chords” and the crowd laughed again. Semler’s music finds home with so many young people who grew up in strict, religious environments to only later come into their own self as progressive, queer adults and having to grapple with what it means to be accepted (or not) by family and friends.
Semler’s latest song “Real Estate” from their latest EP of the same name describes the experience of living in LA, surrounded by influencers. She explains the inspiration for this song came from three influencers moving onto the street where she lives with her wife and children. Two of said influencers were “Christian influencers” and the song explains how Semler isn’t jealous of the life they are leading, “being a ten minute internet icon.”
Semler themself has some level of internet acclaim, having made viral videos in the past with topics ranging from her wife sharing a banana bread recipe to investigating megachurches in the Los Angeles area that claim to be inclusive with a diverse congregation despite not allowing queer individuals to hold levels of leadership. The song echoes “I want to be somebody” in a haunting anthem, footstomping the ever present theme of modern society, everyone hoping for their piece of the influencer culture pie. Semler concludes the song with the sentiment that happiness will come from owning a big house where her family can live together and support and love one another.
The song has struck a chord with many who know (and don’t know) Semler - those who come to the comment section of Semler’s Instagram Reels to say they will pray for them to find the peace and love in God that their favorite influencers flaunt. Semler’s “Staff” (as she refers to her fans) reply with “You must be new here if you don’t know Grace is also a Christian.” Sure, the song might seem petty to some, but it’s the bold and direct messaging that Semler has been known for.
”The last time I was here, someone got engaged. They were in the front row and it was so magical,” Maddie Zahm shares when she takes the stage after a short break. Looking around the room, it’s no surprise that fans would want to share a personal moment like that in a setting like this. There were so many couples in the crowd, holding onto each other and singing along to their favorite songs. The venue is the perfect place for such a community to come together and experience their favorite artist live.
Maddie is a radiant light, her face lit up the entire show, from her opening performance of “Everything All The Time,” a track reminiscent of Regina Spektor with a driving drum beat provided by her band. “Meryl” is a funky, upbeat track reflecting on how her Mom asked her if she knew she was gay growing up and she thought back to Meryl Streep’s incredibly sexy performance of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. “That was sexual for me,” Maddie shared about the older actress’ iconic role.
Maddie is real and honest with her fans in the room, from sharing how she is working on radical acceptance in therapy to lamenting her choice to wear a thick button up sweater for the show. “If you’re deconstructing, I’m so glad you’re here. This next song always sounds like church, but it’s not,” she shared before performing her viral hit “Hometown Letdown.” Much like Semler’s tracks, this song is unabashedly about people from her hometown that felt like she turned into a different person when she came out and began to live outwardly as her true self.
“‘Dani’ wasn’t originally on the setlist but I’m a little bitch for you guys,” Maddie joked with her fans before starting the song. It feels like she’s just there performing for a few hundred of her closest friends in the best way.
“Please go fucking vote,” Maddie shared from the stage, receiving loud cheers and applause. The crowd was undoubtedly filled with people who had already voted early or at least had a strong plan to vote, but in such a tumultuous time in the political landscape of the country, hearing artists take time out of their sets to address it makes an impact.
To close out the show, Maddie made her way out into the crowd, singing with her community. Unlike other experiences where crowds have a chance to see their favorite artist close up, so many fans’ phones were long forgotten, in their bags or pockets, tears streaming as everyone sang together in a moment of reverence.
If you have a chance to see this show in a city near you, regardless of your level of religious trauma, it’s a can’t miss evening of laughter, tears, and queer joy. Maddie’s tour continues through the end of November, ending in Los Angeles and Semler’s last show on the tour is the November 10 stop in Kansas City, MO. Just make sure you bring your tissues.
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