"It's Our Duty to Take Care of Each Other": Leith Ross Fosters Community at Chicago Concert
- Anaïs Turiello
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
The crowd bustles beneath the ornamental finishes of the historic Thalia Hall with light indistinguishable chatter soon to fade as Leith Ross graces the stage.
The 27-year-old singer-songwriter hailing from Winnipeg, Canada rose to recognition quickly by way of TikTok, with the haunting and heartfelt 'We'll Never Have Sex.' Their new record, I Can See The Future has recently released, only further emphasizing the unique and masterful lyrical abilities of Ross, as well as their tender and mesmerizing vocals, enhanced by expansive instrumentals. To follow the release of the record, Ross began a world tour in October of this year, which will carry on into 2026.
As Ross comes up to speak, the lights are dim, and they stand alone with their hands tucked behind their back. Before we are to get to the performance, Ross explains, they will be highlighting a local community organization, as they do in each city they play in. With the brief introduction, a representative of Chicago nonprofit, The Harbour comes out to speak, being met with much enthusiasm from the crowd. In a city made so chaotic and unsafe by the current administration and the agents it has deployed upon our community, the all-encompassing violence and sadness has felt like the elephant in nearly every room— even in concert halls where bigotry and its resulting misery is meant to be checked at the door. It was refreshing to see an artist not only acknowledge this reality but take meaningful steps to do something about it and to help in our time of need, instead of merely passing through.
The Harbour's mission statement reads as the following: "Our mission guides us to provide emergency housing and services to youth experiencing homelessness to promote their safety, stability and personal growth. Every day we empower young people to be self-sufficient through safe housing and support services to prevent homelessness." On stage they proudly state, "Under this new administration, programs like ours are fighting for survival, but we refuse to shrink or disappear." After being met with an outpouring of love and support from Ross' welcoming fans, the stage was then turned over, as the lights soon dim to a deep purple and blue.
Accompanied by their band, Ross begins with 'Point of View,' a poignant track off the new record. Beginning with only two acoustic guitars, the strong melody is met with a pulsing bass and drum line, hitting in synch as the spotlight shines upon Ross. With soaring and magnetic harmonies, it is a strong start to the show.
As Ross glides through the setlist to an entranced audience, the importance of their supporting band is noted clearly, as the varying instruments introduced not only highlight but amplifies Ross' vocal abilities. 'Treasure' begins with simple keys, to soon be smoothed over impressively with a live violin. The sound hits every corner of the room, enveloping the audience like a hug as they sway back and forth, quietly singing along, wanting to truly listen more than anything else.
Ross calls us back to The Harbour, reminding the room that community and giving back is something extremely important to them, especially on this tour. When introducing the country twang filled track, 'Stay,' Ross states, "This song is about longing for community and realizing if you want it, you [have to] work for it. [I] feel, hopefully, that's what these shows can be."
It is often that Ross seems to become flustered with the outpouring of adoration they receive, with a giddy greeting to the crowd and many thank yous between nearly every song. Their confidence, however, only builds throughout the evening. In a poignant moment of vulnerability, Ross, without their typical guitar in hand, inches closer to the front of the stage, bridging the physical gap between the fans with their arms ever reaching. They confess, "One thing I was terrified of was being without my guitar and being at the front of the stage." With the encouragement, waving hands, and cheers of the concertgoers, Ross begins to sing 'Terrified,' a vulnerable track about the very feeling they just described— dancing and smiling comfortably as though they'd never experienced that fear at all.
In perhaps one of the most heartfelt and standout moments of the night, Ross introduces the tranquil and reflective 'I Love Watching You Eat Dinner,' explaining, "it's about giving your friends things without expecting anything back and it's about giving everybody things without expecting anything back because we are human and it's our duty to take care of each other." The love within the room is palpable, as the girl next to me places her head on her partner's shoulder and the pair in front of me begin to hold hands.
This tour, as Leith stated earlier, was and is a call for community at a time when we need it most, and through music, that is what was embraced and cherished that very evening. It is exactly what music and art is for, and Ross was able to not only perform a memorable set but foster a safe and welcoming environment which will only be built upon long after the tour bus pulls away.
Learn more about The Harbour and get involved here.