The Crane Wives Hit Stage AE for the Second Show on Fall Tour

Indie-rock/folk quartet The Crane Wives came to Stage AE in Pittsburgh, PA on the night of November 8 for the second show on their 2025 Fall tour across the northeastern United States. They were supported by queer indie-folk artist Spencer LaJoye.

At almost exactly 8 p.m., an hour after doors had opened, Spencer LaJoye walked on stage, walked out by The Crane Wives drummer Dan Rickabus. Rickabus introduced LaJoye, expressing his appreciation for them joining the band on tour and giving an icebreaker question like a professor might on the first day of classes.

Much of LaJoye’s work deals with being queer and nonbinary while also navigating spirituality and a background in Christianity. Even for those at the show who may not have been familiar with them, by the end of their set, Spencer had much of the crowd either singing along or in tears. Before their last song, a fan near the barricade handed LaJoye a nonbinary pride flag in solidarity.

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A little after 8:45, the lights dimmed on the stage and fog began to roll in. A mysterious, sharp-dressed man wearing a deer mask walked on stage, carrying four lanterns. He set them down on each corner of the stage, among the props of a forest scene scattered about. As he set the final lantern down, the mysterious deer man took a bow toward the crowd and walked off.

The Crane Wives walked on shortly after. The 2,200 person venue erupted in cheers as they did. Blending indie sounds with folk and rock elements, they draw from mythology and folklore imagery in both their artwork and musical style. Right from the get-go, the crowd was dancing and singing along, reflecting the band’s calming yet playful energy. During “Say It,” nearly the entire crowd got their phone flashlights out to sway along, and continued so for the entire song.

Since this was only the second night of the tour, there were still the typical nerves and still getting back into the swing of life on the road, but the band was up front with that and played it off extremely well, playing extremely tight musically.

At 17 songs, The Crane Wives setlist lasted about an hour and a half. It had songs spanning across their almost 15 year discography, going from 2012’s “The Fool in Her Wedding Gown” all the way to 2024’s “Beyond Beyond Beyond” and everything in between.

Hailing from Grand Rapids, Michigan, The Crane Wives is made up of dual singers and guitarists Emilee Petersmark and Kate Pillsbury, drummer Dan Rickabus, and bassist Ben Zito. To date, they have released five studio albums, one live album, and have almost 1.4 million monthly Spotify listeners with hundreds of millions of streams across their discography.

The Crane Wives will be touring across the northeast U.S. through the rest of November with support from Spencer LaJoye.

The Crane Wives Fall 2025 Tour w/ Spencer LaJoye

11/07/25 - Buffalo, NY - Asbury Hall

11/08/25 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE

11/09/25 - Harrisburg, PA - XL Live

11/11/25 - Ithaca, NY - State Theatre

11/12/25 - Asbury Park, NJ - The Stone Pony

11/14/25 - Richmond, VA - The National

11/15/25 - Baltimore, MD - The Nevermore Hall

11/16/25 - Norwalk, CT - District Music Hall

11/19/25 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount

11/21/25 - Boston, MA - Roadrunner