Ella Mai @ WaMu Theater – 7/16/26
Show Review by Louise Geri
Photos by David Conger
Before WaMu Theater had filled with Ella Mai’s majestic voice, you could see the effort she’d put into the Do You Still Love Me? Tour by taking a quick walking tour of the venue. Fans posed in a Mai-themed phone booth, collected goodie bags at the Amplified Access entrance, and formed a long line at the merch booth. The crowd smelled of perfume and cologne.
Following sets from openers Girlfriend and Ama, a loud boom and synths filled the venue. Many phones rose as stagehands pulled the curtains open, revealing Mai sitting on a chaise longue. The lighting was sensual. An intoxicated couple next to me swayed, and I could more clearly see vape mist coming out of various attendees’ mouths closer to the front. I smiled, enjoying a more free-form concert experience than I’m used to. Mai began with, “There Goes My Heart”, a song that would suit a Euphoria-style party scene.
The energy shifted as blue lights made the scene optimistic and cheery. Mai rose from the chaise longue and swayed her hips to “100”. The lighting more clearly showed the stage setup, including drums in a leafy enclosure. A shrill keyboard sound played as Mai questioned the crowd, “Do you still love me?” She pranced across stage left while singing “My Mind”.
Mai cycled through throwbacks, prompting cheers as she shook her butt while doing a lasso motion and danced with both background vocalists. The venue scent got smoky, a kid sat on a parent’s shoulders, and a clap led by the background vocalists caught on briefly.
Mai asked the crowd, “Do we have any lovers in here tonight?”, cuing peachy lighting for “This Is”. She explained, before “Not Another Love Song”, that this is her first tour in three years. The crowd screamed as Mai danced with her whole body and gave the electric guitarist a moment to shine, prompting a band introduction. Whispering vocals ensued after Mai asked, “Are my ladies in here tonight?” She launched into “Shot Clock”, which the crowd adored.
She amped up her hand motions, making for great audience interactions, during throwbacks “DFMU” (2022) and “10,000 Hours” (2016). The intro to the former prompted a young female attendee near me to scream and do a happy dance. The lights went dark for “Naked” (2018), leaving Mai lit by only a large circular light. Phones came out and flashlights were lit upon her request.
Everyone left the stage as a spoken word interlude played, discussing how passionate love can be misconstrued negatively. A telephone booth was wheeled out. As Mai re-entered the stage, lights flickered and a clock ticked. She donned a blue minidress. Standing confidently, she sang “Luckiest Man”, telling a partner how lucky he is to be with her.
The phone booth rang and lit up, prompting her to enter and pick up a call from a friend, saying over a speaker that some men need to be put in their place. She waltzed in and out of the booth as she sang a couple Do You Still Love Me? Tracks. The backing vocalists had solos for the final song, “Outside”.
Younger girls near the back of the crowd rocked to “Somebody’s Son” as Mai sang to her electric guitarist. Mai sat with her background vocalists, swaying to “First Day”, and the show began to drag. It felt like the lantern scene from Tangled.
Acoustic guitar opened the sadder toned “Chasing Circles”. Mai sat on the chaise longue again. Fans flicked their hands to the “No Angels” lyric, “We should be grateful!” She lifted her hand to silence the crowd as she transitioned into “How”. The percussion built again to assert power, and the crowd got riled up when she yelled, “Seattle, let’s go!”
The highlight of the show was “Boo’d Up”. Before Mai began, she addressed the crowd, “Hold one second, I was informed someone got engaged in the audience while we were singing ‘This Is’.” She invited the engaged couple onstage to waltz during the song.
The show closed happily with “Trip” and “Little Things”. Mai expressed her gratitude to the crowd, and attendees filed out into the glistening SoDo night.
