Author: Cailyn Aungst

Posted: Apr 28, 2025

Isabel LaRosa radiated something special over the Observatory North Park on a Friday night in San Diego. The energy collaborated into a burst of vibration throughout the room consisting of fans from multiple generations from the moment she stepped on stage. They collectively chimed in a recitation as she sang. The night felt more like a celebration than one single stop in a musical tour

Opening the night was Tender Misfit whose performance was the perfect introduction to the night with a really cool ambiance set. Their sound was unique, in a good way, and you could tell the audience was enjoying it. 

Following, was Mercer Henderson who kept us going by standing her ground on stage, incorporating an infectious energy with catchy hooks and genuine lyrics, the audience warmed up even more.

When Isabel eventually walked on stage it was clear she was who everyone had been waiting for. She has a relaxed and natural stage presence that is utterly compelling without being contrived. Her voice was incredible; soulful, beautiful. You can tell that she feels every word she sings.

She powered through fan favorites like "i'm yours," "favorite," "eyes don't lie" and "muse," and the crowd was step-for-step with her the entire way through. Two of the loudest singalongs of the night were "BABYDOLL" and "older," with barely being able to hear Isabel over the crowd as everyone was shouting the lyrics back at her. It's definitely one of those moments where you stop and take in just how much her music means to everyone.

The production was super tasteful too, moody lighting, visuals that synched up to what she was singing about, but never distracting from what was happening on stage. Isabel stayed locked in with the crowd the whole time, smiling, making eye contact, making the whole thing feel like a mutual experience, rather than just her performing at us.

One of the highlights of the evening came when she premiered a pair of new, unreleased tracks. They seamlessly fit into the mold of what she’s doing now but also hinted she was about to step up another level and expand even more as an artist. She appeared genuinely thrilled and the crowd fed off this energy.

By the time she had closed out with "Destroy Myself For You," it felt like it was suddenly over, no one wanted it to end.

Seeing Isabel LaRosa live, it’s evident she’s just getting started. Isabel’s the type of artist fans will be bragging about seeing in intimate venues years down the line as she explodes onto an even bigger stage. She’s the real deal, and Friday night in San Diego proved just that.

📸/✍️by: Cailyn Aungst