On Oct. 27, Compton’s own Steve Lacy electrified Austin during the 17th stop on his “Give You The World” tour.
Lacy has seen his career rise to mainstream success since the release of his second studio album, “Gemini Rights” in July.
This album features the smash hit “Bad Habit,” which has spent 17 weeks on the Hot R&B Songs Billboard charts with nine consecutive weeks at number one.
Lacy’s sold-out show at Emo’s Austin had people waiting in line six hours before the doors opened. Tickets for this show ranged from $250-$400. Since it was general admission, you would stand for the three-hour performance.
Everyone wore their best Lacy-inspired outfits. Others dressed identically to Lacy, with the giant “S” on the front of a white button-down shirt that he is seen wearing on stage.
The line for this show wrapped around the outside of the building. As soon as the doors opened at 7 p.m., fans stormed in to get front-row views while others lined up for drinks at the bar or for Lacy’s merchandise.
To begin the show, Fousheé, an artist from New Jersey, opened for Lacy. Her energy ramped up the crowd. From R&B/soul to pop-punk, she brought a wide variety of music for fans to listen to.
The time had come as Fousheé finished the last song on her set
Lacy’s concerts are an intimate experience as fans can be less than a foot away from the singer
The concert started with the song “Buttons,” and from that point, you saw how devoted his fans were as they sang every word from start to finish.
That passion was displayed throughout various songs, from “Gemini Rights,” “The Lo-fis,” “Apollo XII” and “Steve Lacy’s Demo.”
Lacy’s core fanbase is like no other. Songs like “C U Girl,” “Dark Red,” “Ryd,” “Some, N-Side,” “Playground” and “Infrunami” erupted the crowd like they were released the day before.
At times, Lacy allowed the crowd to sing his songs. From his body language, he was surprised that songs from five to six years ago had fans in a frenzy.
His body language was different from his show in New Orleans, where he dealt with fans throwing disposable cameras on stage, which led to him smashing the camera and ending his set early.
Fans at this show were respectful and were able to get the best version of Lacy. After performing a song, he conversed with the crowd and kept them entertained with his witty sense of humor.
Alongside fan favorites, Lacy’s latest album provided a mix of emotions for fans. Songs like “Helmet” and “Static” had the crowd screaming from the top of their lungs with conviction. Other songs, like “Give You the World” and “Amber,” had the crowd singing like hopeless romantics.
It was only a matter of time before fans got to hear the song that has taken the country by storm, “Bad Habit.” The groovy melodies with the mesmerizing guitar strings are why this song is so popular.
Catchy lines like “I wish I knew, I wish I knew you wanted me,” shook the venue because of the roaring crowd.
By the end of the concert, fans were exhausted because they performed alongside Lacy for an hour and a half.
Overall, Emo’s Austin was a venue that was able to fit a sold-out crowd without the fear of overcrowding. The sound quality of the concert didn’t disappoint as Fousheé and Lacy produced sets that were loud and clear.
The only negative thing about Emo’s Austin was the lack of parking near the venue. Many fans resorted to parking across the venue in a plaza, which is illegal. Following the concert, hundreds of fans dealt with a boot on their car tires.
With his newfound success, “Gemini Rights” should find itself nominated for many awards, and “Bad Habit” has solidified itself as a contender record of the year.
This is the beginning for Lacy. His mainstream success has given him the exposure he deserves. As fans, it will be exciting to see what’s next for the 24-year-old singer, songwriter, musician and record producer.
After the final stop of his U.S tour in Los Angeles, Lacy will go overseas for five dates to perform in Australia, France and Great Britain.
