Review: 2019 All Things Go Fall Classic

The sixth annual All Things Go Fall Classic was the perfect way to usher in the new season, after a summer that truly felt like it would never end. Though DC is usually a lovely place to be, there’s something about the last few months of summer that just makes me sad. Am I human or mosquito bite? Will I ever be able to wear a turtleneck again? Is just it really humid, or is the air actually sweating? But, the air finally cooled, a new season was ushered in, and with it was a diverse lineup of artists playing at Union Market’s Dock 5, who helped us have a weekend of good music, good food, and fall vibes.

Below, I’ll break down my personal highlights in order of appearance.

1. Chelsea Jade

A last-minute addition to the festival lineup, Chelsea Jade spent the fall supporting MUNA on tour and promoting her first album, the moody DIY-pop bop “Personal Best.” I’ve been a fan of hers since Lorde endorsed her aforementioned first album, and was thrilled to finally see her live. She took the Fall Classic stage early Saturday afternoon, moving through synchronized choreography and harmony with her two backup singers. This highlighted the restraint evident throughout her first album, and made her first performance in DC one to remember.

2. mxmtoon

At her first festival appearance, mxmtoon overcame her nerves and shared her lyric-driven, ukulele-based songs with the growing crowd of fans. Through lyrics built on poignant imagery and the startlingly familiar, Maia speaks fearlessly about therapy, mental health, the disillusionment that arrives at the end of high school, and more. Though it’s been a minute since I myself cried in a prom dress, her music was immediately relatable and engaging, especially to younger fans in the audience. In addition to her performance, I saw Maia speak on one of Friday night’s Classic Conversations panels. The Women X Music panel brought women from different sectors of the music industry together to discuss their careers and experiences. In particular, I appreciated Maia’s comment about how she seeks to use her growing platform — she boasts 391,000 followers on Instagram alone — to engage with complex issues and make her voice heard. It’s clear that she has a bright future ahead of her as a musician and activist.

3. MUNA

Full disclosure, MUNA was my most highly anticipated act of the weekend, and they absolutely did not disappoint. During a set of dance-friendly tracks, they hit their fans right in the feels and undoubtedly won over audience members who had never heard their music. In an Instagram post, I wrote that the setlist was the epitome of “crying in the club” and I stand by that. Starting off strong with “Saves the World” lead single “Number One Fan,” they worked their way through their catalog, speaking solidarity to trauma on synthy pop track “Crying on the Bathroom Floor,” having a self-proclaimed Dixie Chicks moment with twangy single “Taken,” and even dedicating “Hands Off” to Congress. The trio’s relentless energy and determined self-love were on display throughout the set. So many people have said this of MUNA and their new album that it is practically a cliche, but it bears repeating that if anyone can save the world in its current divided state, it is this band. However, before ending their set with “I Know A Place,” an anthem of inclusivity and safety dedicated to the queer community, lead singer Katie Gavin suggested that radical change can come about when you save yourself first, a fitting introduction to a song that encourages all listeners to be fearless — and exactly who they are.

4. LANY

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Los Angeles-bred band LANY seemed to be the overwhelming fan favorites of Saturday’s lineup. When I got to at the festival around 3:00 p.m., I was surrounded by LANY fans who had arrived even earlier to secure a spot on the rail for the band’s set at 8:30 p.m. That’s dedication. One fan drove to the festival from North Carolina, another held a bouquet of roses she hoped to give to Paul Klein, the band’s lead singer, and the list goes on. So, yes: everybody loved LANY, and the band loved the DC crowd right back. As the penultimate act of the festival’s first day, they performed their chill, sunny pop as the sun set over Dock 5. The crowd was no less than enthusiastic, vibing to the band’s nostalgia-tinged tracks like “If You See Her,” “Through These Tears,” and the classic “ILYSB” — all of which evoked sentimentality without losing substance.

5. CHVRCHES

Closing out the first day of the Fall Classic was CHVRCHES, playing a set of old and new bangers. After an hour-long wait between the end of LANY’s set and the moment the members of CHVRCHES stepped on stage, the crowd was buzzing with anticipation. Of the set, lead singer Lauren Mayberry said it best, calling the gig “a celebration of sadness, rather than the sadness itself.” To me, that’s the thesis of CHVRCHES’s work, especially their most recent album “Love Is Dead,” and they fully enveloped the crowd in a that energy. Perhaps the best part of all was Mayberry’s commentary in between songs. She joked about her glittery silver jumpsuit, comparing her style to that of “someone’s fancy nan,” and dropped feminist realness, saying, “actually, if I was a rock band guy I could try 40% less hard...I could just roll out of bed and they’d be like, ‘genius!’” This combination of self-deprecating humor and undeniable musical slayage made CHVRCHES’ set engaging, energetic, and the perfect way to end the night.

6. Allie X

My Sunday at the Fall Classic began with a set by the ever-transforming Allie X, who served us a set of dramatic electro-pop tracks that sparkled with relentless energy in spite of the rain. Wearing a voluminous white dress, she played well-known older tracks like “Bitch” and “Casanova,” and alluded to a new era with recently released single, the darkly hypnotic “Fresh Laundry.” Her stage presence throughout only emphasized the way her music leans into persona and evolves. Though this isn’t rare in today’s pop landscape, the high drama and artistry that Allie X brings to the table is unique and slightly terrifying, in the best possible way. As the sun finally came out over the Fall Classic as her set wrapped up, she performed an unreleased song. Though most other artists would choose to end with their biggest hit, that’s the thing about Allie X — she prefers to keep her fans guessing.

7. LÉON

I’d be remiss to not mention LÉON, whose soulful, carefree pop charmed the crowd as the end of day two approached. Performing songs from her self-titled LP, released earlier this year, LÉON grooved her way through the set (and across the stage). Highlights included her cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” a staple in her setlist that will never not be a personal favorite, as well as a stripped-back version of “Come Home To Me,” the emotional ballad at the center of her new album. Her genuine, emotive set established the tone for the rest of the night — Fall Classic legend Betty Who and rising pop icon Melanie Martinez — perfectly.

As exhausted as I was after two days of Fall Classic-ing (standing is hard), I’m so glad that I was able to experience all that this year’s festival had to offer. In particular, it was great to see All Things Go reinforce their commitment to including and uplifting women-led acts at this festival and create space for conversations led by women in the music industry. Looking at past years, it’s easy to see that the ATG staff are tastemakers, highly skilled at picking the next big thing to lead the festival (Here’s looking at you, 2018’s Maggie Rogers/Billie Eilish one-two punch). I’m left optimistic that this will continue next year, and excited to see who they are betting on in 2020.