SLIDESHOW: MIKA and Kiesza play new songs, new arrangements at the Fillmore
MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019. Photos: Joaquin Cabello
SAN FRANCISCO — MIKA brought his Tiny Love Tiny Tour to the Fillmore Wednesday, giving longtime fans a preview of his forthcoming fifth album, My Name Is Michael Holbrook.
The show was also a great excuse to put on a happy face with the poppy, cheerful sounds of the Beirut-born, London-based singer-songwriter. MIKA earned widespread acclaim and commercial success with his 2007 debut album, Life In Cartoon Motion, and hit singles like “Grace Kelly,” “Lollipop” and “Love Today.” That record sold 7 million copies worldwide. Its three successors weren’t as successful in the U.S. but were certified platinum elsewhere.
MIKA at The Fillmore on Sept. 18, 2019. Click the image to begin the slideshow.
The new album promises more of the same, but with a high dosage of earnest storytelling that MIKA has been known to pepper throughout his records. He began the record with a concept to look into his own past.
At the San Francisco show, he blended energetic stage presence with baroque pop and his signature eight-octave voice, including an excellent falsetto. The set included new cuts “Ice Cream” and “Tiny Love,” and a healthy helping of the 2007 debut—the aforementioned songs as well as “Relax, Take It Easy.” MIKA even hopped off the stage to sing “Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)” amid a sea of dancing fans.
He also included a few choice tunes from 2009’s The Boy Who Knew Too Much, 2012’s The Origin of Love and 2015’s No Place In Heaven.
Kiesza performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
The tour kicked off last week in New York and ends next week in Mexico City.
Canadian pop singer-songwriter Kiesza opened the show with a 30-minute acoustic set that was very distanced from her more dance-oriented sounds. Playing a ukelele, she was backed by only an acoustic guitarist.
Her set included a cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box,” an acoustic arrangement of the 2014 Eurodance hit “Hideaway,” and the slower-paced 2019 single “Sweet Love.”
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Setlist
- Ice Cream
- Jealousy
- Relax, Take It Easy
- Origin of Love
- Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)
- Tiny Love
- Blue
- Underwater
- Lollipop
- Popular
- Tomorrow
- Happy Ending
- Love Today
- We Are Golden
- Grace Kelly
- Tiny Love (reprise)
- Stay High
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- MIKA performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- Kiesza performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- Kiesza performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- Kiesza performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
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- Kiesza performs at The Fillmore in San Francisco on Sept. 18, 2019.
Follow photographer Joaquin Cabello at Instagram.com/joaquinxcabello.