Billy Porter @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville
May 27th, 2023: Billy Porter @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville, KY
Billy Porter - Photos Courtesy of Emily May
“You have to choose love and you have to keep choosing it every day”. These were the opening words from actor, singer, writer, and director Billy Porter, who brought his Black Mona Lisa Tour Volume One to The Louisville Palace on May 27th for a beautiful evening of music, dancing, and stories, performing hits such as “Love Is On The Way” and “Love Yourself”. In his first-ever career-spanning pop music concert tour, Porter wowed his audience this evening with an amazing full-band performance, multiple costume changes, a powerhouse vocal performance, and a tinge of Broadway. Backed by a video installation, the screen would show video montages and interviews with Billy between costume changes, with him speaking on his role in the Broadway hit Kinky Boots, for which he won a Tony, and the television show Pose, for which he won an Emmy, amongst other important moments in his life and career. Early in the set, with empty seats on the floor near the front, he told the crowd that anyone who wanted to was welcome to come forward and get closer to the stage!
A true performer, Porter walked the stage like a catwalk, encouraging the crowd to dance and let loose and have fun, at one point joking with the crowd about his love for cursing and saying that “I’m 53 so I can say whatever the fuck I want!” and how in Queenglish, “Bitch” is a term of endearment, which earned him plenty of cheers from the crowd. He announced that the Black Mona Lisa Tour is done in honor of his new album, a retrospective of his life and that he would be playing a lot of songs from the album this evening. He sang a song from his first album, saying how it didn’t do too well back then, as the music industry was very homophobic, but oh how times have changed. Showing side-by-side photos of himself then and now, he joked that it’s always crickets when people see early photos! “Yes, that’s me”, he said. A few songs in, in an homage to Kinky Boots, he came out with the red boots he wore in the play and went out into the crowd, much to his fans’ delight.
He talked about how thrilled he was to be on his first rock and roll tour, on a tour bus, and how as a kid he had lots of dreams. One of his dreams was to create a character in a Broadway show and win a Tony Award, which he did. A second dream was to be a film and television star, which he achieved. He then talked about how he wanted to be the male Whitney Houston, and while he has been blessed to play the fairy godmother in the recent adaptation of Cinderella, “There’s only one Whitney Houston and there’s only one Billy Porter, and he’s pretty great too, so maybe I should just focus on being me!”. He went on to say how he hasn’t been touring with his own band in maybe 6-7 years and in nearing the end of this tour, he was so grateful to all of the audiences who have come out to his shows and who have all graciously welcomed him back. “I love ya’ll!”.
He then sang an incredible cover of “Stop Children What’s That Sound”, followed by a message for the audience, his message of hope. “It’s time for the people to rise up and take our humanity back! I’m told not to be so political, that I scare people, but fuck that! Ya’ll better pay attention. Kids can’t go to school or concerts, Breonna Taylor was killed without any investigation. Be not deceived. This isn’t new. 81 million people didn’t vote-are you kidding me? But ya’ll want to complain that we don’t have rights. We need to stay engaged. Ya’ll come to see Billy Porter and I have things to say and I’ll never stop speaking out!”. He talked about growing up Pentecostal and how he has since left organized religion but how in the church they used to talk about surrender. It doesn’t mean giving up or giving in, but rather being present for what is right now, in this moment. “I am grateful to have lived long enough to be present for this day.” He then performed his newest single “Fashion”, which had everyone on their feet!
He then pulled several audience members onto the stage, pairing them into teams of two for a series of “walk-offs”. He and his roadie Blake then demonstrated. He then joked “Oh lord! They get up on stage and do whatever they want!”. Towards the end of the set he introduced and thanked his band and all of the fans who came out, saying he was nervous at the start of the tour that no one would show up. He also thanked his crew, as well as the crew at the venue for all of their hard work loading in and out. He then performed “For What It’s Worth. “Thank you Louisville! I love you so much!”. Leaving the stage for a bit, he came back out in a silver sparkly suit for an upbeat encore. Billy Porter gave his fans a great night of music and performance! It was a night none of us will forget!
MUNA @ The Salt Shed - Chicago
May 16th 2023: Muna, Nova Twins @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
MUNA - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, MUNA brought their Life's So Fun tour to a sold out Salt Shed in Chicago, IL. Fans eagerly awaited MUNA to take the stage and were engaged from the beginning of the show, starting with UK-based opening act Nova Twins—who brought a lively rock and roll edge to their set. Unfortunately, once MUNA took the stage, the show was stopped by a medical emergency in the crowd, but MUNA restarted their performance after ensuring everyone's safety. In between songs, the band expressed gratitude towards their crew and fans, and even dedicated their song "Kind of Girl" to the transgender community. Throughout the night, MUNA performed songs from all three of their albums, as well as their newest song "One That Got Away". From beginning to end, the crowd was incredibly receptive to MUNA's music and message. This was made most apparent by the crowd's nonstop singing along and dancing but what was most moving was the way everyone in the room jumped up and down to the chorus of "I Know A Place" —one of MUNA's most popular songs and an anthem for the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community. Their headlining tour in the U.S. has ended but MUNA will continue to play shows across the country in June and July, opening for Taylor Swift, before heading to Europe/UK in August.
Nova Twins
Elderbrook @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall - Dallas
April 8th, 2023: Elderbrook @ The Echo Lounge - Dallas, TX
Elderbrook | Photos Courtesy of: haidyn mckenzie
Elderbrook’s Little Love Tour in North America comes to a close at the Echo Lounge in Dallas, TX. With openers Erez and Ford, a great amount of energy was brought to the tour for the fans. With each song that was performed, the crowd was more ecstatic and never wanted the night to end. Everyone was excited to come together to celebrate his latest album, Little Love. This EDM show is sure to get anyone interested in the music and rave culture.
Caamp @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville
May 17th, 2023: Caamp, Boa Boys @ Louisville Palace - Louisville, KY
Caamp | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Ohio Folk/Americana band Caamp brought their current US tour to Louisville, KY on May 17th to a sold-out crowd! With this being the first night of their tour, they definitely kicked it off on a high note! Opening the show this evening was a local favorite, Boa Boys. A psych groove rock band that combines elements of funk, psychedelic, and rock music, they always bring fun and groovy energy to every stage they perform. With many fans in the crowd cheering and singing along, they had everyone warmed up in no time! It’s always fun to see these guys live, as they have a fun and easy-going rapport with each other, having formed and performed together since 2016. Although they mostly let their music do the talking, they did chat a bit with the crowd, asking how everyone was doing this evening and thanking them for coming out early to catch their set. Towards the end of the set, they joked with the crowd that they were going to do something cringe and take a video, with the house lights coming on and everyone cheering! They ended their set with a really amazing cover of Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritavile”, which had the crowd dancing, singing, and in good spirits!
Closing out the evening was Caamp. By the time they took the stage, the venue was packed, with hardly an empty seat in the theater! Everyone was ready to dance and were on their feet from the first note, with the band feeding into the energy of the crowd. In June of 2022, Caamp released their latest album Lavender Days, and started their set off with the first track from the album, “Come With Me Now”. Performing plenty of songs from the new album, the band also performed some older tracks, such as “Great Heights”, “Vagabond”, and “All The Debts I Owe” from their 2016 self-titled album. Singer/guitarist Taylor Meier had a really good energy and was having a great time on stage, often walking along the front of the stage and engaging with the crowd, especially the fans who were right against the stage in the pit section. One such moment was during the song “Fever”, which saw Meier sing without his guitar, meandering along the front of the stage and singing along with the fans up front. Intimate moments such as this made the evening all the more special.
When the band sang “By and By” a couple of songs later, the title track from their 2019 album, you could hear masses of fans singing along to the ballad. As moving as it can be to see a band perform, it can be equally moving to watch a fan’s response to certain songs. There were many songs that elicited very moving responses from their fans, who clearly felt every word of many of the song lyrics, with “By and By” being one such song. Performing several more songs, including “Ohio”, “I Keep Going”, “Penny Heads Up”, and a new song entitled “Think of the Name”, they ended their set with “Going To The Country”. The band briefly left the stage after waving and bowing to the cheering crowd before coming back out for a two-song encore. They ended the evening with “Officer of Love” and “All The Debts I Owe”. It was a really magical evening, with the band performing an amazing 22-song set, keeping their fans dancing and singing until the very last note!
Boa Boys
Alter Bridge @ The Louisville Palace - Louisville
May 11th 2023: Alter Bridge, Sevendust @ Louisville Palace - Louisville, KY
Sevendust - Photos Courtesy of Emily May
On May 11th, Orlando rock band Alter Bridge brought their Pawns & Kings US Tour to Louisville for a magical night of music! The Louisville Palace is a beautiful historic theater and was packed with fans this evening who were ready to rock out. Aside from the seating on the floor and balconies, there was a pit section right near the stage for a few lucky fans to enjoy each band up close, making for a more intimate experience. Opening the show this evening was the Atlanta rock band Sevendust. Starting their set with “Face To Face”, they performed an energetic 10-song set that included tracks such as “Denial”, “Disgrace”, “Shine”, and “Crucified”. These guys were full of energy from the start of their set and engaged with the crowd throughout. “To those who are new to us, we are Sevendust,” announced singer Lajon Witherspoon early in the set. He was all smiles throughout the set, with him, Vince Hornsby (bass/backing vocals), John Connolly (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), and Clint Lowry (lead guitar/backing vocals) directly interacting with the fans up front.
They all moved around the stage in an effort to give each side of the theater and crowd ample attention! With plenty of energy themselves on stage, they made sure to get the crowd pumped and moving, as well, with Witherspoon telling the crowd early on, “You can sit down later! Right now, let’s rock!”. He went on to say how much the band loves Louisville and how much they loved and respected Alter Bridge and were glad to be out on tour with their friends! Announcing that their new album Truth Killer would be out on July 28th, Witherspoon asked the crowd who had listened to their new single “Fence” which had just been released that day and who had seen the video, before launching into the song. Towards the end of the song, he had the crowd wave their hands in the air, adding to the fun energy of the set. Towards the end of the set, the band performed “Shine”, with Witherspoon talking beforehand about how special the song was to him, as it was about his younger brother who had died several years ago. He dedicated the song to his brother, saying how much he wished his brother was still alive but how he feels like his spirit and energy are with the band every single night. Ending their set with “Thank You”, he went on to say “Thank you, guys, for always making us feel like family. When you come to see Sevendust, it’s not a concert, it’s a family reunion. We love you. Be safe. Will you have us back again? Thank you! God Bless! We are Sevendust.”
Closing out the evening was Alter Bridge. The crowd was in high spirits, cheering and clapping as soon as the band walked out on stage. Having formed in 2004, they have amassed quite a loyal fan base and it was clear that the band loves their fans as much as their fans love them! The band released their latest album, Pawns & Kings, in October of last year and started out their set this evening with a track from the album, “Silver Tongue”, followed by “Addicted To Pain” and “Before Tomorrow Comes”. Singer/guitarist Myles Kennedy then chatted a bit with the crowd, saying “Louisville! It’s so great to be here! How great was Sevendust? Aside from being some of the best in the business, they are just really great guys. This is going to be a great tour!”. Kennedy, Mark Tremonti (guitar/lead and backing vocals), and Brian Marshall (bass) engaged with the fans throughout their set, shaking the hands of those in the pit area and pointing and smiling at those who were singing along! Kennedy at one point, though, led each side of the venue and the balconies in a “scream-off” to see who could scream the loudest, engaging with the rest of the fans, as well.
A few songs in, Kennedy announced that it was his favorite part of the night where he got to sit back and just focus on guitar before announcing “Ladies and Gentlemen-Mr. Mark Tremonti!”. The band then performed the Tremonti-sung track “Burn It Down”, on which Tremonti and Kennedy both had great guitar solos. Marshall, Tremonti, and drummer Scott Phillips then left the stage, leaving Kennedy on stage alone with an acoustic guitar. He then performed “Watch Over You”, with the emotion of the song washing over the crowd. Two stools were then brought on stage, with Tremonti coming out to join Kennedy. They then performed a second acoustic song together, “In Loving Memory”, with Tremonti playing guitar while Kennedy sang. It was a really beautiful and intimate moment, with Kennedy’s incredible voice carrying throughout the theater and the crowd singing along with him. As the rest of the band came back out on stage, Kennedy asked the crowd if everyone was having a good time. He then joked about how funny it was to ask that because what’s everyone going to say? No, we’re having a terrible time! Get off the stage”, then laughing with the crowd. They then performed the title track from their new album, followed by an introduction of the band by Kennedy. “Thanks again for coming out tonight! You all have been great!”. Then performing "Isolation” and “Metalingus”, the band performed an encore to end the night! Closing out the show with “Rise Today”, the fans sang along one last time! It was a really great evening of music that left the crowd buzzing long after the music ended!
Sevendust
Rex Orange County @ The Mann Center - Philadelphia
May 13th 2022: Rex Orange County @ The Mann Center Skyline Stage - Philadelphia
Rex Orange County - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
Don’t change a thing, you are amazing. The lyrics off of one of Rex’s latest tracks from the album WHO CARE? couldn’t describe his live show any better. Starting off the show in anticipation, you can catch some of the cute touches to the set production, like the city spelled out on the piano at the edge of the stage, or the cute smiling sun and moon artwork donning the curtain as the crowd anxious awaits Rex to step on stage.
As Rex enters the stage through the curtain you can’t help but immediately catch onto his contagious smile. This continues throughout the show as you take in his excited manner of taking over the stage and having a fun time. Along with the fun stage decor of neon thumbs up, beach balls, and Rex’s personalized Who Cares tracksuit you just know you’re in for a fun time!
Hiatus Kaiyote @ Riviera Theater - Chicago
April 28th 2023: Hiatus Kaiyote @ Riviera Theater - Chicago, IL
Hiatus Kaiyote - Photos Courtesy of Timi Ikene
Australian Jazz Outfit Hiatus Kaiyote graced the Chicago stage on April 28th, 2023. The group’s genre is a bit ambiguous, but heavily influenced by "acid" jazz, R&B, with tasteful funk notes (provided by bassist Paul Bender). From the complex and funky bass line of “Chivalry is not Dead, to the melodic and lovely one in “Molasses.” Paired with Nai Palm's dynamic vocal range, the group glided the crowd through an eclectic sonic journey, causing a head bob to even the most stoic of listeners. It was an evening reminiscent of sweet summer nights, lively jives, and solemn stories. Hiatus Kaiyote, you're always welcome in Chicago.
Zae France @ Union Stage - Washington DC
April 11th 2023: Zae France, @ Union Stage - Washington, DC
Zae France - Photos Courtesy of Sarah Peter
Zae France, a North Carolina-born, LA-based R&B musician performed at Union Stage in Washington D.C. on April 11, for the third stop of his THIS VIBE AIN’T FOR EVERYBODY tour. He delivered an intimate show filled with smooth vocals and sensual tunes to the passionate D.C. crowd.
Before taking the stage, Zae France invited two local musicians and one New York-based singer to open the night, and together they helped set the mood for the evening. DMV (DC, MD, VA) native Janae Music started the set with her authentic and soulful songs, hyping up the crowd with her infectious stage presence. KP_ performed next, and with the help of her brother and fellow musician Tsoul, she introduced everyone to her classic R&B style. Finally, Nikki Jayy from New York rounded out the opening with a bubbly personality and her uniquely funky R&B-infused music.
Once the crowd was truly vibing to supporting act DJ Eazy’s beats, Zae France took the stage and immediately turned up the heat with his sultry energy - quite literally causing panties to drop (and be thrown at his feet). Performing a set list that spanned his entire discography, everyone seemed to know all the lyrics for songs such as “Done Up” from his 2019 album Rhythm n Backwoods, and “I’m Yours” from Pretty Girls NVR Listen. Fans put out good energy all evening – swaying, dancing, and singing along to each track.
At one point during the show, a fan was invited up to join Zae France, dancing intimately with him on stage for his popular 2021 single, “Leg Day.” Near the end of the performance, he asked the crowd to take some shots with him, sharing a bottle of liquor with a few people across the front of the stage.
Zae France closed out his set with his latest single, “What It Do,” and an older favorite, “Comfort Zone,” before thanking the D.C. crowd for their energy and inviting everyone to meet him at his merch table after the show.
Janae Music | KP | Nikki Jayy | DJ Eazy
Janae Music
KP_
Nikki Jayy
