Rising star Avery Anna took the stage at The Lyric on Friday night to perform songs from her new album — “forgive, forget.” — as well as older crowd favorites.
Avery Anna Rhoton, who goes by her first and middle name on stage, has attracted attention from esteemed outlets such as Rolling Stone and Billboard. Her album “let go letters,” which was released last year, was featured on Billboard’s “The 50 Best Albums of 2025 So Far.”
She started her performance of this new album with a bang as everyone sang along to “Mr. Predictable,” a song loaded with passionate, rage-filled lyrics backed by a rollicking rock-and-roll beat.
Rhoton’s talents were on full display, demonstrating her impressive vocal range and her skill across genres.
Her song “lonestar alone” from her new album is wistful and hopeful, contrasted with steady instrumentals that brought the audience near tears. Likewise, her guitar skills were magical to watch live; she strummed with dexterity and skill, as the instrument was an extension of her body.
When she began to sing “Life Ain’t Like the Radio,” another track from her new album, fans cheered for its spunky lyrics set to a swinging Southern beat.
Between songs, though, Rhoton was a woman of few words. The interactions between audience and artist is often a key aspect of concerts, but her reserved nature left much to be desired.
Still, her stellar vocals might have been enough to make up for it. When she performed her song “Blonde” from her album “Breakup Over Breakfast” — a snarky, upbeat country song — those in The Lyric could not help but sing along.
Wherever Rhoton’s songs fall in terms of genre — country, rock-n-roll, indie folk or somewhere in between — her fresh lyrics seemed deeply relatable to the audience.
Before Rhoton took the stage, rising singer-songwriter Ava Hall gave a heartfelt performance with songs about love, jealousy and family. She was accompanied by musician Courtney Dymon on the bass.
Hall’s throaty vocals and emotional storytelling were accompanied by a heavy country twang. Compared to Rhoton’s music, which leaned heavily into rock-n-roll, Hall’s act added variety to the show.
Rhoton undoubtedly has star potential, and watching her perform live so early into her career was a treat. What she lacked in stage presence, Rhoton made up for with refreshing vocals, lyrics and genres.
