Madi Diaz balances her cool girl persona with her raw lyricism on the “Weird Faith” tour

philadelphia, pa - february 28th, 2024

Photo via Madi Diaz.

Clustered together, electric blue string lights sat along a vintage-style amp, lighting up the idle stage only occupied by five guitars lining the back of the stage, one stray drum set, and a bottle of Deer Park water. But when the clock struck 9:01 pm, Madi Diaz casually strolled onto the stage with an instantly effortless presence. Donning white jeans, black accessories, and her dad’s 1984 Formula One World Champions t-shirt, Diaz epitomized the modern-day cool girl. She took her place standing in the middle of a faux grass-looking rug, holding an electric guitar and nodding over to her drummer to kick off the first track of the setlist: “Same Risk,” the first track on Diaz’s new album, “Weird Faith.”

Immediately, the crowd begged for connection with Diaz. A fan handed out tiny heart-shaped papers for the audience to hold up at the end of “Same Risk.” “You’re a miracle! Don’t make me cry. It’s too early,” Diaz exclaimed as she tuned her way into “Everything Almost.” The song, written in a Hampton Inn, epitomizes the energy of the performance and Diaz as an artist. She asks question after question pining for answers to life’s many challenges.

Vulnerability remains at the core of “Weird Faith” and is only strengthened by her rawness on stage. In speeches, she explains the experiences and deep feelings that inspired each track. From friend crushes to grappling with doubt to crippling pessimism, Diaz painted a mural of emotions during her set. In tandem with the reflective space Diaz created, she managed to present herself as more of a tortured rockstar than a tortured songwriter. 

Photo via Madi Diaz.

While her storytelling skills matched that of a country singer’s, Diaz’s captivating vocal technique set her apart. She mastered the belt and, in nearly every song, would attack the bridge and chorus with a vibrant power. The first introduction to this belting came during a song titled “Woman In My Heart” from her previous album. Her voice cuts sharply as she repeats, “There’s a woman in my heart” over and over again, her vocals only expanding. The peak of her vocal talents came as she sang “Crying In Public,” which features some of her highest notes. Despite venturing into the top end of her range, she held these long high notes with complete control. Accompanying her vocals, Diaz took striking command over her many guitars conquored the art of powerful guitar as her drummer, Adam Popick, creeped in with hypnotizing drum beats.

By combining her intriguing vocal and instrumental abilities with her songwriting skills, Diaz created a raw space at World Cafe Live so much so that she paused the show to announce her partnership with Human Rights Campaign. “They are really trying to make people more aware of the candidates that are available to people like you and me that want to vote more human rights policies into our country and make sure that the people that serve us reflect the body of people that we are,” she said. She asked fans to text the word “weird” to 99126 to learn more information about this year’s presidential election. 

While none of her music is outwardly political, her music speaks to the broad range of the human experience. In “God Person,” she explained the conception of the song happened on a camping trip with her dad. They had no electricity or running water. “It actually is magical pooping in a bucket on a beach,” she joked. The two of them sat on the beach talking about “magic, chemistry, religion,” Diaz said. Watching the birds run away from the waves, she penned “God Person.” 

“I’m not a God person, but I'm never not searchin’/Lookin’ at the sky, starin’ at the ocean,” she sang to her mom and dad in the audience. 

The “Weird Faith” tour takes the audience to a new magical realm filled with thunderous and refined soundscapes. Leaving moments of silence, Diaz had the whole room wrapped around her finger as she narrated her own story.

After bringing the show’s opener, rising artist Olivia Barton, out on stage to perform a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Diaz’s “New Person, Old Place,” Diaz closed the show with “Weird Faith.” As a fly buzzed around the room, Diaz left the audience with the line, “I'm gonna have a heart of gold/I'm gonna have weird faith.”