Ruel Delivers One of His Most Fun Shows Yet at The Warfield - Kicking My Feet Tour - April 5, 2026 - San Francisco
- Apr 11
- 2 min read
Photos and review by Marisol Elenes
Ruel brought the energy to The Warfield in San Francisco on April 5 as part of his “Kicking My Feet” tour, delivering a night that felt equal parts intimate and energetic. The tour, which wrapped up in Los Angeles on April 8, showcased not only his growing catalog but also the deep connection he has with his fans, something that was obvious from the moment the crowd began singing along.
By the time Chelsea Jordan wrapped her set, the room was already fully warmed up, with the crowd clapping along and locked into the moment. Mercer Henderson kept that momentum going with a set that felt like a hometown return in the best way. She leaned into personal storytelling, reflecting on growing up in the Bay Area and turning the stage into something that felt more like a conversation than a performance. Henderson performed a cover of “We Can’t Be Friends” by Ariana Grande, sitting at the edge of the stage, keeping it intimate with the crowd. She then moved into more upbeat pop songs like “ruin me” and “almost, so close, maybe. ” With 'Say It Like You Mean It' being a standout moment, with the crowd lighting up the whole venue.
Ruel’s performance was both energetic and introspective. He moved effortlessly between upbeat and more personal moments, whether joking about wanting to “feel something,” one minute to sharing stories behind songs about his mom. Introducing “No News Is Good News,", with Ruel explaining it was written from his mom’s perspective and laughing about calling it “a bit narcissistic” before deciding to release it anyway. That kind of openness gave the performance a behind-the-scenes feel for fans.
The setlist was packed with highlights, including “Painkiller,” “Japanese Whiskey,” “Growing Up Is ____,” and “The Suburbs. Ruel kept the energy strong throughout the night, encouraging fans to stand up and dance. His cover of “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” by Cyndi Lauper added a bit of nostalgic fun before closing with “Kicking My Feet.”
Overall, the show was just a fun night from start to finish, the kind that feels less like a formal concert and more like everyone is in on it together. With the UK tour coming up, it’s a good reminder to grab tickets early, because it really feels like one of those shows where the energy in the room makes the whole experience. And with a new album, “Kicking My Feet & Screaming,” out June 12, there’s a lot to look forward to.
