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In what she deemed her “brunch set,” French Korean singer spill tab delivered a tidal wave of sound in her grandiose ACL debut. The versatile musician, also a tattoo artist, took to the Miller Lite Stage at Zilker Park at noon, kicking off the second day of ACL with an enchanting performance. 

With a band consisting of a bassist, a drummer and a vocalist, spill tab herself alternating between guitar and ukulele, the band flooded the smaller audience with an impressive wall of sound, sending surging bass lines and dramatic drum rhythms throughout the crowd. 

The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter continues to make waves in the bedroom pop scene with her genre-bending tonal additions to the music. In her set, the multi-instrumentalist showcased a wide variety of songs, from gritty rock track “Grade A” to groovy, psychedelic French hip-swinger “Calvaire.” With a charming set that gripped audiences almost instantly with fluid, natural rhythm, spill tab created a freeing yet energetic performance.

With siren-like, ethereal croons reminiscent of Billie Eilish and grungy, rock-’n’-roll-esque belts, spill tab gave listeners a thrilling sonic performance. Her hit “Cotton Candy” particularly showcased her vocal variety, offering listeners a delicate, sugar-coated sound. She notably led into this fan favorite with a soft acoustic cover of Usher’s “Yeah!” which left the crowd laughing and gleefully singing along to the early 2000s club hit. 

The three-piece band provided a conversational set with the intimate crowd, frequently speaking with one another about mundane topics like what they did in the morning and their activities the night prior. These interactions reflected an undeniable chemistry that translated well in the band’s musical performance. At one point, spill tab asked the bassist and drummer to improvise funky filler music while she quickly tuned her guitar, a request that served as a true testament to their abilities to always play in sync with one another. 

Before diving into heartbreaking indie-rock song “Splinter,” the bassist even made sure to remind attendees that “It’s okay not to be okay,” which resonated with the audience and created a memorable, heart-warming moment. Overall, every interaction through the duration of the set felt authentic. Full of comedic comments, spill tab evoked genuine excitement and honest discussion with the crowd, giving fans a glimpse into the personalities of the band.