Princess Chelsea & The Dream Warriors – Whammy Bar: March 12, 2026 (13th Floor Concert Review)
There are few better ways to feed the soul than an intimate night with Princess Chelsea and her all‑star Dream Warriors, as they road‑test fresh music born out of their recent “band‑camp” creative retreat. What unfolded at Whammy Bar was both a warm preview of new material, and a reminder of why Chelsea commands such a devoted following — the alchemy of equanimity, vulnerability, intensity, allure, and a touch of mischief that she conjures with ease.
WishClaw
Opening the evening was WishClaw, the newly formed project of Ben Locke (Phoebe Rings, Sea Views), joined tonight by the exceptional Crystal Choi. WishClaw leans into Locke’s natural affinity for indie‑folk and direct, classic acoustic storytelling — where melodies breathe and lyrics land with emotional clarity.
His set felt like the unveiling of a positive new chapter. Remembering a Mountain signalled the promise of his current oeuvre set highlights When It Comes to Me and You Know How It Ends showcased a deeply personal writingstyle, matched by a vocal delivery that is both tender and unmistakably assured.
WishClaw’s upcoming releases should be well worth watching — tonight hinted at an artist evolving into his own shape.
Princess Chelsea
Fresh off the February release of her live in Abbey Rd studio album, ( read review here Princess Chelsea — Live at Studio Two (Lil’ Chief Records) Chelsea arrived in full command of her engaging and mesmerisingrealm. Her stage presence remains singular: part ethereal storyteller, part art‑pop general, weaving fragility and force into something magnetic.
A sold out Whammy Bar — the site of Chelsea’s first ever live performance (then The Wine Cellar) proved a fitting, if decidedly cramped, homecoming. With seven musicians on stage and a shifting palette of instruments, the Dream Warriors navigated the tight space with both physical and musical dexterity.
The new material shows Chelsea continuing to embrace accelerando, rubato and crescendo with striking confidence — creating songs that unfold like miniature odysseys, drawing the audience deeper with every movement.
The night began with a reimagined I Love My Boyfriend, transformed into a cooler, more spacious vibe that flowed seamlessly into Forever Young (Alphaville). From there, it was all new territory.
A slow, pulsing groove opens the track, A Million Creatures with textures that shimmer and swell, hinting atsomething both intimate and otherworldly.
It’ll All Catch Up With You — What begins with a light country lilt grows steadily into a muscular, rock‑edged whirlpool— a clever showcase of the band’s dynamic range.
Atmospheric and cinematic, It’s Been Awhile evokes ocean swells and forest shadows. Chelsea’s vocals float, climb, and expand, carrying the song into dream theatre territory.
A set standout was Run Rabbit Run a driving backbeat, space for spoken‑word detours, gorgeous harmonic interplay,and a final vocal ascent that left the room breathless.
Big Power re-introduced vintage Chelsea: sweet‑voiced delivery layered with sharp, complex messaging. The track grows into a noisy, swirling anthem, complete with high‑performance art energy and Joshua climbing onto the bar to play.
The finale, In the Arcade had Chelsea closing the night in storytelling mode, weaving decades of personal history with St Kevin’s Arcade into a piece equal parts reflection, humour, and wistful charm.
The 2026 Dream Warriors remain a formidable creative unit: Jasmine Balmer, Joshua Worthington‑Church, Simeon Kavanagh‑Vincent, David Harris, Joe Kaptein, joined by Kate Tindall‑Lum. Their near‑telepathic interplay and connection to Chelsea is central to the show’s power — a blend of shifting instrumentation, layered textures, and intuitive responsiveness that gives Chelsea’s songwriting its multi‑dimensional life.
Based on tonight’s first glimpse, the band’s recent creative retreat has unlocked something potent. The new work feels rawer, braver, and more emotionally exposed, as though Chelsea has granted herself permission to explore a wider vocal and expressive range. The result is music that feels alive — restless, searching, and thrillingly organic in the best possible way.
If tonight was a preview, then what’s coming next could be some of Princess Chelsea’s most compelling work yet. Simply stunning.
John Hastings
