If there's one thing I love doing, it's falling down the YouTube rabbit hole to discover artists with 500 views, a hastily thrown-together lyric video, and fourteen comments to their name. It's not even for the bragging rights of saying, "I was here before this blew up!" (though I have been quoted as saying it once or twice), but more that I love being exposed to smaller artists. Oftentimes, their concerts are intimate spaces filled with diehard fans, the performer only a palm’s length away from the crowd as they sing. In the digital age, I also love how much engagement and genuineness we see in their social media, their music, etc.
Eli has been all this and more for me since April 2025. While I'm a bit later on the wave of Eli fans, I found her when she had about 100k followers and randomly came across her singing a cover of one of her yet-to-be-released album tracks, wearing a fabulously extra black beehive wig and singing into a hand mic. The caption was funny, the comments screaming encouragement and I was immediately hooked. I navigated to SoundCloud on my computer to play her song "Marianne" again and again, forced it on everyone in my radius, and reposted her video to my story to say how I was "obsessed."
I began keeping an eye on her, on standby while she dropped a video here and there to tease her upcoming debut album, "Stage Girl." For some songs, I arrived when the YouTube thumbnail said "posted 23 minutes ago," devouring each sparkly, teeny-bopper, Hannah Montana reminiscent track of the early iPod days and loving it. So when I found out she was finally going on tour to promote "Stage Girl," I knew I had to snag a ticket.
This edition of Solo Concert Series is a little different because I was, in fact, not solo! My husband, Guillaume, accompanied me, as he had also developed a liking for Eli's music with my constant exposure and dance parties. So we headed to Le Poisson Rouge on March 11th for her concert.
I've never been to this venue, so I got on line about an hour and a half ahead of doors opening to ensure I wouldn't be stuck in the back. This ended up being the right move: I was directly in front, but due to my height, I think I got a little lost in the sea of people and didn't get much fan interaction with Eli while she was on stage.
Still, I had a blast. I sang all the words, cheered, and hooted when she spoke to the crowd or started a new song. When she started singing her track "Fortunately 4 U," which was the number one track on my rotation that week, I surprised even myself by getting emotional.
Her vocal agility is incredible, and she put on a very Camp Rock–esque show where she teetered all around the stage, hair blowing in the wind, Disney knees included. There was a feather boa, a cardboard girl cutout, and an American Idol–inspired "Stage Girl" banner held up by a metal pole in the background...and it was magic.
After the show, Guillaume and I hung back for a chance to meet Eli, and my wish was granted. Shaking like a leaf, I stepped forward and, with a small, shy voice, asked Eli if I could have a photo. She towered over me even in knee-high Converse, and she smiled with glitter-covered cheeks as I nervously opened my phone camera. I gave her a hug, thanked her, and went back to Guillaume feeling like I had just bungee jumped off a high-rise.
Later, I posted photos of the show, sending her a DM thanking her for the photo and telling her how much I loved the concert. She reacted with a heart.
This concert is a bit different than my previous ones because I have grown so attached to Eli so quickly over the past few months. I encourage you to check out her music, support her, and be on the lookout for more releases from her! You can find her on Instagram at @journalofadoll
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