Girl at the Rock Shows

I had one of the hottest tickets in town on Monday night, and I honestly didn’t know how I felt about it. Sure, I was excited because a show is a show, but I feared that I would see nothing more than a flash in the pan, which would translate into the performance. It’s nothing against Shaboozey, but I know how these things work. It seems like this man shot into stardom overnight, and although I know he’s been doing things for years and is a super influential figure in the music scene when it comes to writing and collaborating, I also know that people only go see him to hear “the song”. The song of the summer, the song of the year– whatever you want to call it, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has set the world on fire and that’s why this ticket seemed to be the hottest ticket in town. It was people just wanting to hear “the song,” but, for me, I wanted to hear that Shaboozey was more than just “the song.”

Before we get into whether or not Shaboozey proved to me he is more than just a flash in the pan, let’s talk about opening act Luke Borchelt. Luke hails from Maryland but feels a bit like a Northwoods Minnesota country boy with a southern drawl. Full disclosure: the music that Luke was giving the audience wasn’t quite for me, but I hated how the roar of chatter from the audience overpowered what he was doing. Sure, it wasn’t quite my thing, but there was talent here, and, more importantly, there was heart. Luke only spent about twenty minutes on Monday night on the legendary First Avenue stage, but he filled each moment with all he could. Joined only by a friend on backup guitar, Luke powered through a set of genuine words matched with soft guitar strumming.

Again, it wasn’t anything to write home about musically for me, but what did stick in my head as I woke up the morning after was what he said and how he said it the one time he addressed the crowd. It almost felt like he didn’t quite believe he was opening up for Shaboozey right now. As if he wasn’t worthy of the honor. He thanked the audience for watching him play but went on to say he is just a guy from Maryland with a dream (or something to that extent). It felt honest and raw as if he was genuinely having a hard time believing this was his life. I don’t know why that stuck with me so much, but it was just so honest. It honestly hit me like a truck and added a sense of charm for me that had me sold even when the music didn’t quite do it for me.

Oh, Shaboozey– the man who seemingly rose to fame overnight. Sure, you probably know his hit song “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” but did you know this man has done a little bit of everything from doing a song that was part of the soundtrack to ‘Spider-Man: In the Spider-Verse’ or that he collaborated with Beyoncé on a couple of tracks on ‘Cowboy Carter’? I don’t think that the majority of the super-sold-out audience knew either of these things or that this man even had a history, but that didn’t matter. From the second Shaboozey and his band hit the legendary First Avenue stage and until the very end of his short hour-long set, he had everyone in the palm of his hand– including me.

Although, like Luke Borchelt, the country-inspired music of Shaboozey isn’t quite my thing, the way he presented it on Monday night was. Although he has hit the charts and is quickly becoming a household name, it felt like he had everything to prove and nothing to lose throughout his performance. From the slow songs to his danceable bops, he did everything with such a sense of heart and fire that it was impossible just to stand still and watch him. He made you want to dance even if you didn’t know where the beat was going and had you singing along even if you didn’t know the words. There was just something so energetic but real about his performance, and I was honestly quite shaken.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that this man, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, has talent. I mean, come on, he wrote with Queen Bey, but I don’t think I expected to be so moved by a performance from what I fear will be a flash in the pan. Walking into the show on Monday night, I expected a performance like the one I got the first time I saw Lil Nas X. It was great, but it was clear to tell that this man would only have a short time in the spotlight and then fall back to the background. I hate that because, like Shaboozey, I see the talent in Lil Nas X, but it’s just the way of the industry these days. It’s so hard to stay relevant, and having a hit song will only get you so far. As I watched Lil Nas X, I saw the first, but I also saw it already starting to sputter. That was not the case with Shaboozey on Monday night. Within just a few songs, I realized that Shaboozey would be so much more than just a flash in the pan. I may be wrong, but after his performance and that fire and fight I felt throughout it, he will continue to be a constant in the daily playlists of my life and on the short list of acts I have to see live every time they come to town.

The next time Shaboozey comes to town, I have a feeling it will be to a much larger venue. I can’t wait for that moment and to be one of the few people that can say, “I remember seeing him at First Avenue mainroom!” but, more importantly, I already can’t wait to relive the magic I felt on Monday night. What a sha-mazing show.

Line Up:

Luke Borchelt

Shaboozey

Venue: First Avenue

Smell-O-Meter: A little weed

Average Age of the Crowd: 42

Crowd Surfers- 0

Stage Divers- 0

Dance-ability- 4 out of 10

Amount of Beer Spilled On Me While Walking Around- $0

Broken Bones- None

Spotted Flying Through The Air- Nothing Noticed

Fights- None Witnessed

Pukers- 0

Passed Out People- 0

Idiots Taken Out By Security – 0

How Many Times I’ve Seen These Bands Before (or at least how many times I can remember)-

Luke Borchelt– 0

Shaboozey – 0

Celebrity Sightings –None

Overall Score – 12 out of 10

Show on Deck — Avril / Simple Plan / Girlfriends

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