Leanna Firestone comes on stage to start her set at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on Saturday, May 30, 2026. **(Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)**

For all the heartbroken, angsty and slightly crossfaded girls, Leanna Firestone is writing to you.

Firestone took the stage at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco on her Victory Lap Tour following the release of her second album, “The Answer,” which blends the raw lyricism and vocals of her early music with the heightened production value that comes from years of experience.

“I am somebody who is trying so hard to connect with anybody that is willing to connect with me,” said Firestone. “When I was younger, that meant telling you everything about the situation—leaving it all on the page and walking away. Now, I’m like, ‘You don’t have to try so hard. These people will understand you.’”

The night began with a rendition of “Foreverever,” a song that grapples with the insecurity Firestone described. It reads like the diary of any young girl who has felt misunderstood or misrepresented by her circumstances.

“A lot of that was mistrusting that somebody wouldn’t understand my vision,” Firestone said of moving away from the stream-of-consciousness style of a song like “Foreverever.” “But you win nothing for suffering.”

The night felt like granting oneself permission to move from the old to the new, seamlessly flowing from singles like “You Just Didn’t Like Me That Much” to tracks from Firestone’s 2023 EP “Public Displays of Affection,” including “God and the Government,” as well as some of her earliest releases, such as “Least Favorite Only Child.”

Firestone looks towards the audience during her set. (Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)

Halfway through the set, Firestone introduced the title track from her new album, “The Answer,” lowering the crowd’s energy and speaking directly about coming of age in the wake of the pandemic.

“If you ever wonder, ‘maybe I’m not in the right place or at the right time,’ this is for you,” Firestone said, addressing the crowd.

In an interview with The Santa Clara, Firestone spoke about coming of age alongside her audience and growing with the people who listen to her music.

“I have a deep desire to meet people who’ve connected with my music—it marks the seasons of their life,” said Firestone. “I’m growing up with them. I’m following them, and they’re following me.”

Firestone continued to work the crowd, dancing and finding joy on stage. Notably, the audience knew every word, singing and dancing along throughout the set.

A sign language interpreter stood beside the stage for audience members who were deaf or hard of hearing, andamassed a sizeable crowd of their own, matching the energy of the rest of the room.

A sign language interpreter signs next to the stage. **(Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)**

Bottom of the Hill is a small venue, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in character. There is a bar and food options, as well as an outdoor patio and more traditional diner-style seating for guests who want to take a breather. The surrounding area is relatively quiet, and because the venue is removed from the bustle of downtown San Francisco, it is an approachable destination for those unfamiliar with the city.

Firestone performed a surprise song in the latter half of her set titled “Not Yet,” which explores her complex relationship with her father while also reflecting on rejection from record labels in the competitive music industry.

Firestone noted that the sadder songs in her set are not meant to be discouraging, despite the emotional reactions they often elicit.

“I hope that they know that by leaving that in the room, that sharing with other people, will ultimately be more fruitful for their own lives,” said Firestone. “It will help them process and move on as they don’t carry it all by themselves.”

Firestone closed out the night by taking a shot with an audience member and performing several songs from her new album, including “BFNBU,” before returning for an encore of “Town Ain’t Big Enough.”

Overall, Firestone said the theatrics are all part of a larger effort to foster connection with her audience.

“Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow,” said Firestone. “That’s really the essence of live music.”

Fans in the front row sing along and take videos of Firestone during her performance. **(Nina Glick/The Santa Clara)**

The Logistics

Ticket prices vary, but generally range from about $10 to $30.

The drive from Santa Clara University to Bottom of the Hill takes roughly 50 minutes, primarily via U.S. Highway 101, depending on traffic conditions.

We parked at the 80 Mississippi St. Garage, located less than a two-minute walk from the venue. Parking costs approximately $10 for four hours.

An Uber or other rideshare service typically costs at least $85, with prices fluctuating based on real-time demand and traffic conditions. Because traffic in the area is often heavy, fares can increase significantly.

For those taking public transportation, one option is to take Caltrain to San Francisco and connect to Muni service near 22nd Street Station. On our route, the total fare would have been about $13, and the journey took roughly an hour and a half, though routes, schedules and prices may vary.