From stealing my heart when I saw him for the first time in October 2018 to snagging a spot in my top five shows of the year when I saw him in October of 2019, Yungblud is one of those acts that I will drop everything to see and that was exactly the case on Friday night. I didn’t care that I was going to be at the sold-out show alone and, although all ages shows typically bug me solely because they really make me feel my age, it just didn’t seem to phase me as I walked into the sold-out Fillmore on Friday. I grabbed a drink, found a spot, and just waited for what was sure to be an absolutely amazing night of music.
poutyface was the first of the three acts to take the stage and she definitely got the night started off right. I’ll admit, watching this young woman on stage made me feel super old and I found some of her lyrics to be a bit too youthful for me but that didn’t take away from the talent and energy that she brought with her quick opening set. Although I watched her first few tracks thinking I knew nothing about this woman, a few tracks in I started to recognize her tracks as songs that caught me on some of the daily playlists I like to listen to from time to time. Her vocals are distinct. A little bratty, a little poppy, and a little rock n’ roll, I love the way her stage presence matched all of those things. Friday night’s show was poutyface’s first time in Minneapolis but it surely won’t be her last and you best believe I will be dropping everything to see her the next time she comes to town.
Although I don’t typically go off of a description that a band gives themselves and prefer to think of my own description, the next band to take the stage has identified themselves as “Fashion-art Rock” and honestly, that’s the best way to put it. I have had the honor of seeing Palaye Royale a few times now and although musically, their glam rock drenched sound isn’t quite for me, there’s no denying the power of their live show and their set on Friday was no different. Fronted by Remington Leith, this band will have you sold with their stage presence alone. It’s a dynamic live show full of movement and passion while never forgetting about the music. Mix that with their artsy outfits and make-up and you are left with an image and sound that will stick with you. Another thing to note from Palaye Royale’s set (and honestly all three of the sets on Friday night) is their undeniable connection to their fans. Although clearly rockstars, they come off as accessible and the way they interact with the audience is something that I just can not find the words for.
Being able to see Yungblud grow over the years has been a true treat for me. From that first time I saw him at the 7th Street Entry when he was stuck in a wheelchair due to a broken leg to the time I saw him play a sold-out First Avenue all the way to last night, seeing the growth of this twenty-four-year-old musician has been amazing. Even though a lot has changed over the years for Yungblud, his live show has not changed at all and I can not praise him enough for that. From jumping and running around on the stage to his sexy yet sometimes awkward dance moves, Yungblud has stayed true to his self-proclaimed weirdness and has never sacrificed his quirkiness for anything. That is honestly something that has always drawn me to Yungblud– he embraces the weird and the quirky and encourages people to just be themselves. Sure, it’s a little cliche but it’s a powerful message and the way that Yungblud presents it just feels so real and honest.
From coming out to his hit song “Strawberry Lipstick” to closing with “Machine Gun (F**k the NRA)” from his first full-length album, Yungblud’s set may have been short at only fifteen tracks long, but he did a great job of picking songs to play. Each song came with his signature attitude and moves while just proving that, although young, he has a lot to say and by God, the world is going to hear it. It didn’t matter what song he was singing, every track had the audience lost in a frenzy of energy that was impossible to not get lost in. As an all-ages show, there were definitely some parents in the audience that were trying to stick to the outskirts of the energized crowd but even they were getting into the music and that really says all that needs to be said about the power of Yungblud.
