Photos and review by Jennie Book
@jenniebookphotography

Ashe, aka Ashlyn Rae Willson, kicked off The Trilogy Tour earlier this year in May and brought it to the UC Theatre in Berkeley on June 19th. The 21-song set was broken into three acts which represent her three albums, sung in the order of Willson, Rae, and Ashlyn.

From the moment her silhouette appeared through a cloud of fog, she had the crowd cheering and singing along. Her voice was as strong and as expressive as it is on her albums, but it was the way she connected with the crowd that stood out the most, kneeling at the edge of the stage in front of the barricade, locking eyes with fans at the front and singing right to them. It was personal.

She did a great job laying herself bare on the stage, giving hits, heartbreak, and healing for the fans to wrap themselves up in. And since it was her hometown show (she’s a San Jose native), her parents and grandparents were in the crowd, which always feels so supportive and is fun to witness.

The three act setup of albums made the night feel like moving through chapters of her life, one emotional era at a time. The stage, lighting, and even Ashe’s energy shifted between each section, giving every album its own distinct mood and color. Ashlyn was raw and emotional, while Rae had a more defiant edge, but still stayed vulnerable. And then Willson felt like a celebration. This is her first record released independently, and you could feel the freedom and confidence radiating off the stage. 

Ashe’s fans are devoted. There was a great fan-organized moment where the GA floor crowd held up paper hearts in the air, and Ashe noticed, and it looked and felt like it was meaningful to both parties.

She played “The Little Mess You Made,” a song by The Favors, the band she’s in with Finneas. Other great standouts were “I Wanna Love You (But I Don’t),” and “Pushing Daisies.” With every song there was joy on the stage, plus always that real connection between she and her fans.

For all the latest information about Ashe, check out ashe-music.com and @ashemusic.