Like a Superstar

Just a short little disclaimer before you dive into this article– I’m not super proud of my words or my photos. This is not me seeking pity or looking for comments about how great you think this post is. Honestly, I’m stoked that I had a hard time writing this review and that my photos aren’t my best, because for the first time in a long time, I was at a show and enjoying it. I wasn’t working. I didn’t worry about taking notes, didn’t worry about the lighting, I just enjoyed, and that is more than enough for me to know that Friday night was a hell of an amazing night.

April 2023 was the last time I saw Nur-D live, and unfortunately, I didn’t get to see much of that show. A snowstorm hit in the middle of the show, forcing me to choose to head out early to try and get home safely. It took me three hours to get from downtown Saint Paul to my house in the suburbs. It was a white knuckle drive, but I made it through purely because of the positivity and energy that I had gotten from Nur-D. I hate that it’s been so long since I’ve felt this way. I don’t have all the right words to describe that feeling, but I do know it’s something that only comes from Nur-D, so when I saw he was performing at The Dakota on Friday night, I jumped at the chance to feel that insane amount of positivity and energy again.

Nur-D is a geek. There’s no other way to put it, but that’s part of his charm. What drew me into his world were his songs that referenced everything geeky, from Harry Potter to Pokémon. Nur-D is also an emotional human who isn’t afraid to let those emotions seep into his songs, like “Take My Picture,” which includes the line, “This for one of my bad days… one of the ones where I hate myself.” Sounds dark, right? But really, that song is nothing short of an upbeat anthem for, well, those bad days. At the end of the day, Nur-D is a human. He’s just like the rest of us, but has an element of showmanship and a voice like none other. All of these reasons are the reasons I adore this performer and the reasons why Friday night was such a perfect show.

The second that Nur-D and his band took the stage, a pulse of electricity swept through The Dakota. The Dakota is a sit-down kind of venue with fancy (and delicious) food, cloth napkins, and lit candles at every table. Not quite the type of room I thought I would see this local hip-hop star at, or one I’d enjoy seeing him at, but he instantly started tailoring his set to the room, kind of. I’ve seen many shows at The Dakota before, but haven’t seen anyone play to the room like Nur-D did. It didn’t matter where you were sitting at the venue on Friday night; there was a point where your eyes would meet Nur-D’s gaze, and his dance moves would transfer to you, even if they translated into nothing more than a tap of the foot or the nod of a head. There was just something so dang special about the way that this guy was able to connect to everyone in the room on a deep level, making you feel like you weren’t just at the show, you were a critical part of it.

Although the energy was high throughout the set on Friday night, the sounds were constantly changing. From some of the oldies that make you want to just get up, dance, and be a bit silly, to some of Nur-D’s newer songs that have a bit more mature take when it comes to the lyrics and overall vibe, I loved that you could see the evolution of this man within this one set. Personally, I like the old stuff. I just think it has a sense of whimsy and childlike fun that keeps it feeling light and fresh, but there’s no denying that some of the newer songs hit me straight to the core. We also got to hear a brand new song, “Drown.” “Drown” isn’t out yet, but as Nur-D explained, it’s coming along with a lot more new music. I’m not going to spoil this track for you, as you’ll just need to keep your eyes and ears open for when he releases it to the masses, but I will say that this new track continues to show the growth and sheer talent behind Nur-D and his band.

Regardless of whether it was a new or old song being performed, Nur-D and his band did a great job of making everyone feel included in the set. I’m not just talking about how he spent time connecting eyes with everyone in the room; I’m talking about the energy that he flooded the room with. From body-positivity to social activism and everything in between, to say that this show was inclusive would be an understatement. That’s nothing new when it comes to a Nur-D show or Nur-D in general. That’s just who he is. I know this is going to sound weird and maybe even a little creepy, but on my super dark days, I’ll watch a Nur-D music video or even just an interview. There’s just something so charismatic and infectious about this man that there’s no way to continue having a bad day after getting a small look and listening to this powerful character.

This review has been all over the place, and I’m sure it’s hard for you to follow. Part of me wants to apologize for that, but the other part feels there’s no need to apologize. Nur-D, in a classic jazz supper club kind of setting, wasn’t quite what I had on my bucket list for this year, but it ended up being more than I could have ever asked for. I went into this show seeking the energy and positivity I have always felt when watching this performer. I got that, but I also got so much more. Nur-D’s set on Friday reminded me that it’s okay to have fun and that, at the end of the day, you just have to do what makes you happy. It doesn’t matter if people see you or judge you; as long as you’re happy, it’s the right thing. So next time you’re at a show and the music moves you– move. The next time you’re at a show and music makes you feel a wave of emotions that is almost too much to handle– let it out. The next time you’re at a show and you just never want it to end– don’t stop cheering. We all try and be so serious about all of the things but, really, we should be more focused on being happy and seeing Nur-D on Friday night was the perfect reminder of that.