Hot New Artist Alert: Bishop Briggs lays her heart out at The Troubadour - incredible performance

From the moment we first heard Bishop Briggs’ sexy new single “Wild Horses,” we were instantly hooked. We immediately needed to know more about this powerful voice known as Bishop Briggs (formerly Bishop). Even more so, we needed to see her live. We all know that an artist can sound amazing because of the mixing magic that happens in the studio, but the true test to an artist’s talent comes with their live performance. Let’s just put it this way, Bishop Briggs passed that test with flying colors.

This past Tuesday at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, Los Angeles fans and industry were treated to a special intimate performance from the elusive Bishop Briggs. There was no official website, no Facebook bio, and no press page — there’s not much known about the sultry electro-soul singer. All we know is she has a serious set of pipes and swagger that will surely skyrocket her to fame.

With just three singles (“Wild Horses,” “River” and “The Way I Do”) released the past eight months, Bishop Briggs has grabbed the attention of the masses. From her former home of Hong Kong and Japan, the London-born Scot, now repping Los Angeles, has been showing her sheen worldwide.

Bishop Briggs took the stage at the iconic Troubadour clad in a bright red Varsity-style bomber jacket. With the Troubadour packed for her headlining showcase, the young 23-year-old had a seasoned radiance. Humble yet confident, Bishop Briggs’ performance would be much different from her prior LA performances at The Echo and Bardot. On this night she was the belle of the ball, with even a bigger buzz. While opening act Blacktop Queen did a nice job ripping through a six-song set, it was evident that most of the people in attendance — most who were industry folk — came to see what all the fuss was about with this girl called Bishop Briggs.

Opening with the powerfully emotive “The Way I Do,” Bishop Briggs indeed laid her heart down for everyone in the room. As she sang the heartwreneching lyrics: “Oh, but you will never know this love/Will never know this pain/Never know the way I feel for you/You will never know this touch/Will never know this shame…” chills ran down the spines of everyone in the room. Performing with genuine emotion, it was early in the performance that we knew Bishop Briggs was legit.

Getting the crowd moving with the trap-esque beats of her debut single “Wild Horses,” Bishop Briggs enveloped us with swagger and sass, hitting every soulful note with confidence and class. What followed next was a thunderous performance of five unreleased songs including “Be Your Love” and “Mercy.” Song after song, Bishop Briggs fully engaged fans at The Troubadour, revealing her vulnerability (and strength) through heart-wounding lyrics. With a vocal prowess so rich, “that girl Bishop” would even turn the head of the late and great Janis Joplin.

Supported by a vibrant band that featured a trio of synth, guitar/keys and a drummer, Bishop Briggs took us home with her hit single “The River.” If you have yet to listen to this goosebumps-inducing power ballad, you best watch the video for it below.

Bishop Briggs will continue showcasing her music with a hefty amount of U.S. tour dates, including dates with Coldplay. Stay tuned for more news from Bishop Briggs, including her forthcoming album and more shows. We have a feeling she’s gonna go big (duh).

Opening up for Bishop Briggs was the aforementioned Los Angeles alt rock trio Blacktop Queen. Also a fairly new act, Blacktop Queen revved the crowd for an evening of jolting music. Rolling out the pop rock with tunes like “Spiderbite” and the more edgy “Blackout,” the trio loosened up the crowd nicely. Frontman Evan Ambrose (who also donned a Varsity-style jacket) worked the stage like the energizer bunny. Dude’s got some infectious energy for sure.

Photography: Andrew Gomez