NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography 2026
It always boggles my mind when I find out an artist has been around longer than I expect. This is definitely the case with LA-based indie rocker Ian Sweet (nee Jilian Medford) whose debut album Shapeshifter was released in 2016. I give myself and everyone else a break this decade because it feels like time stopped during Covid and the subsequent lockdown but, nevertheless, ten years!! This summer, she released her fifth studio album Silverstruck to good but not great reviews. For an artist that isn’t just starting out, between the depressing climate of this country and a short lived move to NYC (now back in LA), perhaps Ian Sweet is at a crossroads. The “sad girl” music she started with still provides a great listen on Silverstruck and maybe some of these reviewers are looking for progression that isn’t there and would take her somewhere she doesn’t want to go. There is satisfaction in staying where you and being happy with it. Either way, she’s in the middle of a headlining North American tour that stopped at the Baby G in Toronto on Sunday, October 18th.
The opener for this tour is New York-based (by way of the Boston suburbs and Nashville) Meg Elsier. She released her debut album spittake in 2024, toured last year with Blondshell, and has been working on songs for an upcoming studio album. With some songs that were very chill and others that rocked out, her lyrics are always interesting, sometimes seeming like a stream of consciousness flowing from her mouth. Backed by bassist Jashaun Smith and drummer Hayden Cotcher, Elsier had the crowd bopping along the whole set. What strikes me most about Elsier isn’t just her bubbly easygoing manner but the joy with which she engages her fans and bandmates. An introvert she is not. The interesting thing about her ten song set is that only three were from spittake. There were some new songs mixed with older songs that oddly cannot be found anywhere except in some YouTube videos of other live performances. Her most recent single 2026’s, “meaning of life” was missing as well! My favorites of the night included “ifshitfuq”, “baby”, and “New England”.
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When Ian Sweet took the stage, I have to admit I did a double take. The last time I saw her was when she opened for Nation of Language in 2024 and her touring band was completely different! Now backed by Kaycie Satterfield on bass, Bernie on keyboards, and Ross Chait on drums, Sweet got ready to get things going. As the rhythm section kicked off the initial strains of “Smoking Again” from 2023’s Sucker, it sounded like it was going to be a rocker but then the instruments fade a bit as Sweet’s sweet vocals (pun!) took over. Throughout the evening, it was definitely her voice that came to the forefront. She wasn’t much into bantering with the crowd although she did tell the audience that they were her favorite on the tour thus far. It was a bit hard to tell whether there were more cheers or boos when she said Toronto was better than Montreal! Tracks off Silverstruck dominated the setlist but she threw in several from Sucker and a couple from earlier albums.
As with Meg Elsier, Ian Sweet seemed to very much enjoy her set and both hung out at the merch table to sell merch as well as chat and take pictures with their fans. Unfortunately, there were only a couple of copies of Silverstruck, which were snatched up quickly, but Sweet had copies of her other records as well as t-shirts and tote bags. Having shot huge bands in stadiums and arenas, I think it’s these smaller intimate shows that are actually more enjoyable. Are the crowds as big? No. Is the production and lighting as good? Again no. Are the bands as successful? Mostly also no. But there’s something to be said for less pressure and bands that are very much enjoying themselves instead of going through the motions and an audience that is dancing and singing along rather than being on the phone or having side conversations. Ian Sweet with special guest Meg Elsier will be making their way across the United States through the rest of October and the first week of November. It’s a great show and won’t cost you your whole paycheck.\!
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