Mitski turns hollywood high into a sanctuary of shared sorrow
Mitski’s five-night residency at Hollywood High School wasn't just a concert; it was an intimate exorcism, a collective catharsis held within the familiar walls of a place steeped in adolescent angst. The indie icon, known for her poignant lyricism and melancholic melodies, transformed the school auditorium—usually a stage for school plays—into a space where vulnerability reigned, and thousands found solace in shared emotional release.
A return to raw connection
Mitski explicitly sought to recapture the feeling of early, DIY punk shows, those raw, intensely personal moments she described to NPR’s World Cafe. “I wanted to get back to the feeling that I had 10 years ago, 15 years ago, where I felt like I was in a room with a few people and we were really connecting and and it felt more raw,” she explained. The carefully constructed set—a cozy living room scene complete with a writing desk, chaise lounge, and warm lighting—contrasted sharply with the backdrop of a high school auditorium, creating a surreal yet captivating atmosphere. A projected ocean, bathed in the hues of a setting sun, seemed to cradle the singer as she began her performance of “Dead Women” from her latest album, Nothing’s About to Happen to Me.
The choice of venue itself felt like an act of deliberate subversion. Mitski, with a playful wink to the audience, quipped, “I got you primed. It’s dark in here – no one can see you. You can cry.” And cry they did. While the crowd spanned generations, a significant contingent of high school students—many seeing their idol for the first time—added a palpable layer of youthful intensity to the proceedings.
The school's attendance challenge, incentivizing students to maintain perfect attendance for a chance to win tickets, proved remarkably successful, according to Michael Reagan, a school staffer. “ It’s definitely my most effective attendance challenge that I’ve done all year … probably in my three years in the district,” he noted. The event drew attendees from across Los Angeles and beyond; Sophia Barrios and Jasmine Vasquez, for example, journeyed from the Central Valley, spurred by Barrios’ long-standing devotion to Mitski’s Music. “I just love how her Music is very broad—there’s multiple different genres that she covers. And I love that every album is very different,” Barrios said, highlighting the artist’s ability to resonate across diverse musical tastes.
More than a concert: a gift to the community
The residency wasn't solely about the Music. Mitski demonstrated a commitment to the community that embraced her, pledging to donate $2 from every ticket to a local youth Music education non-profit and covering the cost of caps and gowns for graduating seniors. As she aptly stated, “I think other artists should start being more creative with their shows like that. They should donate back to the community who comes to see them.”
For some, the concert offered a poignant homecoming. Jessica Torres Vicente, a 2014 graduate, returned to Hollywood High for the first time in 12 years, finding the school remarkably unchanged. The familiar gold lettering proclaiming “welcome to world famous Hollywood high school” and the faded posters of past productions transported her back to her own adolescence. “It’s kind of like memory lane, but a healthier dose than a high school reunion,” Torres, now a therapist, remarked. The gymnasium’s familiar smell, pointed out during the performance –