Sloppy Jane: The End of a Tour
Words by James T. Walker
Photos by James Todd Walker
I’ve now seen Sloppy Jane live a total of three times. The first was in 2022 at DC9 Nightclub. Sloppy Jane was in the midst of the Madison Tour, celebrating the release of the band’s sophomore album, Madison. They were joined by the electric Niis LA and local rock star Cinema Hearts. The show was small, packed, wild and bursting with energy. Sloppy Jane’s psychedelic theatrics and heartbreaking sonnets won the crowd over, leaving the entire audience yearning for more.
The show was so good, in fact, that in 2023 I decided to drive all the way to New York City just to see Sloppy Jane live again. The venue was Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn. This time, Sloppy Jane was joined by members of New York City band Gustaf and their spin-off band Tea Eater. If that weren’t enough, they were also joined by the very memorable rock group Jigsaw Youth. The openers kicked up the jams, and Sloppy Jane left the crowd mesmerized by the band’s unique presentation and crowd work. Most memorably, Sloppy Jane hosted a karaoke night for anyone who attended all three concert nights in a row. The band has repeatedly shown that the audience is as much a part of the act as the musicians themselves.
Now it’s 2026, and Sloppy Jane returned to DC to perform at Songbyrd Music House on August 11. This was a big show, bringing the band’s latest cross-country tour to a close. The venue itself is on the smaller side, with a capacity of 250, but there was plenty of room for audience members to sing and dance to their hearts’ content. A classic red theater curtain hung behind the elevated wooden stage, providing a fitting backdrop for the evening’s theatrical performances. The space was clean and inviting, and I imagine it makes for a great bar and restaurant when it isn’t packed with concertgoers.
We arrived at the doors at 6:30pm to make sure we secured a good front-row view. Only one other person appeared to have the same idea, and she was talking with several people already seated at the venue’s outdoor tables. As we got closer, I realized those weren’t fellow fans at the tables but lead singer Haley Dahl and several of her tour mates. The group happily chatted with the young fan and expressed their excitement about finally getting some rest after such a long and demanding tour. As 7pm drew nearer, band members began to disappear inside and the line outside grew longer. Everyone seemed ready to get the show on the road as soon as the front door opened.
While waiting outside, I had the opportunity to talk about the opening act with a nearby fan. The group’s name was Cherub Tree, and they were described to me as a very good riot grrrl band that had recently released its debut record, Death Wish. As the line moved forward and we made our way inside, I talked with a few more Cherub Tree fans, and they all told me the same thing: “They’re really good!”
I’ve noticed that Sloppy Jane is very fond of choosing high-energy, female-led bands as opening acts. The decision appears to be welcomed both by Sloppy Jane’s audience and the fans who come specifically to see the openers.
Watch Cherub Tree perform “Not Yours, Never Was” live on YouTube:
As we stood eagerly at the front of the stage, time seemed to slow down for a little while. The information provided said the doors would open at 7pm, but no specific time was given for when the performances would begin or end. Finally, at 8pm, a group of tattoo-covered young musicians walked onto the stage. This was Cherub Tree, and I have to say that the aforementioned “really good” might have been an understatement.
The group opened with a spot-on cover of Hole’s “Violet,” played with great passion and sincerity. The band went on to perform several original songs, most of which can be found on Death Wish, and they matched the energy and enthusiasm of the opening track perfectly. Every member was on point, and the band played like a well-maintained machine ready to roar into motion.
Cherub Tree’s set seemed to end almost as soon as it had begun. The band started tearing down while Sloppy Jane began setting up. It was about 9pm at this point, and the crowd was clearly eager to see what the headliners had in store.
The audience was greeted by two musicians wearing dresses in the signature royal blue that has become associated with Sloppy Jane. The rest of the players took their positions, and the set opened with “Overture,” the opening track from Madison. Haley Dahl came strutting out in one of her typically eccentric stage outfits, quickly raising the energy of what began as an eerie and whimsical orchestral piece.
Watch the official music video for “Overture” by Sloppy Jane on YouTube:
As the show went on, the energy increased dramatically, thanks in large part to Dahl’s commitment to theatrical performance. She made sure to reach out and interact with the crowd when she wasn’t climbing over stage pieces or rolling across the floor with manic enthusiasm. Dahl’s wonderfully unhinged stage presence was balanced by the more restrained musicians surrounding her, who played a major role in bringing the Sloppy Jane vision to life while juggling multiple instruments throughout the night.
The band finished with a deep cut from the Sure-Tuff EP, “Peroxide Beach,” a song many fans had expressed excitement about hearing live. It felt as though the show ended in the blink of an eye, but Dahl and her group of highly talented musicians had kept the room at a fever pitch for an hour of back-to-back songs, theatrics and mayhem.
Dahl went the distance with the crowd and emerged victorious as the tour finally came to an end. The room was packed with smiling faces, many of them eager to line up at the merch booth and have one last interaction with her before the night was over.
As for me, after three Sloppy Jane shows in four years, I’m already excited to see what the next tour has to offer.
Here are some photos of Sloppy Jane performing live at Songbyrd Music House on August 11, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
Here are some photos of Cherub Tree performing live at Songbyrd Music House on August 11, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
