Perfume Genius, the stage name of Seattle-based artist Mike Hadreas, delivered a performance that was both intimate confession and theatrical spectacle last night (Sunday, June 15) at Cleveland’s newest venue, Globe Iron. Touring in support of his most recent record ‘Glory,‘ Hadreas transformed the space and blurred the boundaries between pop, art rock, and experimental performance into something uniquely his own.
Urika’s Bedroom opened about an hour after the doors and played a short, six-song set. They’re a newer act, with just one album under their belt, 2024’s ‘Big Smile, Black Mire.’ Their sound is a bit indie and a lot dreamy, with a touch of emo flair. The quiet set was occasionally shaken up with songs like “XTC,” where the band got a little louder and the lead singer screamed the chorus, surprising the crowd in a good way.
Perfume Genius opened with “In a Row.” The set immediately established the evening’s duality: lush, shimmering synth arrangements paired with raw, emotionally charged vocals, as Hadreas was slowly spun around on a small circular mini-stage in the center of the big one. Hadreas’ voice carries a vulnerability that feels startlingly unfiltered in a live setting. What might sound meticulously produced on the record becomes tactile and deeply human in person.
And that’s where the show stood out from the beginning to the end: Hadreas’ performance itself. One of the words that comes up most frequently when talking about Perfume Genius is “underappreciated,” and going off the show last night, that more than checks out. Why more people aren’t listening to this band is baffling. It’s hard to understand why they aren’t selling out venues of this size and then some. But seeing them live, you realize that one reason is the all-too-common problem of the albums not translating enough of the live performance. This is an act that needs to be seen live to be fully appreciated.
What one expects from the live show after listening to the albums is something akin to the person they cover, Mazzy Star, with a soft and subdued set. One expects some profound lyrics and great musicianship, but don’t plan to see anything special in the way of the lead singer’s stage presence, relying more on the songs than the show. Instead, what you get is more like if David Bowie and Keith Richards had a child. Hadreas writhed in place and strutted across the stage. He slid all the way off the stage on a giant exercise ball. He crawled around on a chair, wrapped in his microphone wire, spinning in circles. Even in slow songs like “Otherside,” he was captivating to watch. He was electrifying and entrancing in the quietest way. You couldn’t take your eyes off him.
The unshowy backing band was the perfect support, their sparse arrangements placing Hadreas’ voice front and center. Not a bad place for it. But they were also not afraid to take off when the song called for it, like “No Front Teeth.” They showed both ends of this spectrum with the two-song encore, starting with “Fade into You,” by Mazzy Star, which is a perfect song, vibe-wise, for them to cover. It’s a great song to close a show. It’s just a great song in general. Then, the final song was “Queen,” arguably his breakout hit, which brought down the house.
A little under half of the set was from the latest album, but the show is so much fun to watch that they could have all been from the new album. The subject matter and performances of the songs all blend perfectly. He sings about pain, but makes it sound like a lullaby; he moves as if he’s about to fall apart, yet effortlessly commands the audience.
One great thing about Perfume Genius not being fully appreciated is that you get to see the show in intimate venues like the Globe Iron, which is exactly what you want for this type of show, providing a perfect space for the tones of both heartbreak and catharsis. You want to be as close as possible to the action, and the venues they’re playing provide just that. Everyone needs to see the live show, regardless, even if you’ve not heard a single song, new or old. Check them out.
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