Photos and Review by Emily Gringorten
@emgringo

The Marías kicked off their Submarine Tour at a sold-out Fox Theater in Oakland, CA on July 16th, 2024. The self-proclaimed psychedelic-soul band is supporting their newest release Submarine which came out in May of this year. Their innovative set design and frontwoman María Zardoya’s ethereal vocals and choreography made this a unique and memorable concert experience for everyone in the jam-packed crowd.

Shrouded in blue light, the band entered the stage to the sound of water and submarine pings before starting the set with “Hamptons” and “Run Your Mouth” from the new album. Zardoya strolled back and forth across the stage to greet her adoring fans before getting into some older tracks like “Only in My Dreams” from their 2017 release Superclean, Vol. 1 and “Little By Little” from 2021’s Cinema. The expansive setlist touched each of their releases and even included covers of “Lovefool” by The Cardigans and “Otro adardecer,” their collaboration with Spanish superstar Bad Bunny. Other highlights included “Over the Moon,” “Ruthless,” and the closer “Cariño.” 

Most memorable was the stage; it featured a large circular illuminated structure that Zardoya used as a prop throughout the show, posing in front of and inside of it to perfectly complement the dreaminess of their sound. At one point, she even sang from inside a water-filled glass bathtub. The show was beautiful and captivating, and fans showed their appreciation through screams that only grew louder as the night went on.

Formed in 2016, the band comprises Zardoya, drummer and producer Josh Conway, guitarist Jesse Perlman, and keyboardist Edward James. Born in Puerto Rico, Zardoya sings in English and Spanish and blends elements of indie, jazz, funk, and lounge to create their trademark soulful sound. I highly recommend catching the Submarine Tour, which will make its way across the US this summer and conclude with European dates this fall.