Rating the Concerts I’ve Attended in the Past Two Years
April 15, 2023
Junior Sam Cohen shares and rates his favorite concerts. Scroll to the bottom to see some photos!
Tyler, The Creator: Call Me If You Get Lost Tour
Tyler, The Creator embarked on his first sold-out arena tour in February of last year and captivated fans through song, dance, and a fair share of laughter. I was lucky enough to see the performance twice, once on his birthday in Philadelphia and another later that week in New York City. Tyler was accompanied by three openers: the wild Teezo Touchdown, the suave Vince Staples, and the dazzling Kali Uchis. While all the opening acts did a fantastic job, they all paled in comparison to Tyler’s genre-bending set. Tyler performed music from all six of his studio albums including Igor and Flower Boy. The stage was set up all throughout the arena, as he bounced between a luxurious house, a boat, and a forest. While on the boat, he rode on a wave of fans serenading them with songs from his most recent album Call Me If You Get Lost. The setlist perfectly captured each moment in Tyler’s discography by acknowledging fans new and old. Tyler’s entire performance was perfect and I am eagerly awaiting his next studio album which is rumored to be dropping later this year.
Rating: 10/10
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Steve Lacy: Give You The World Tour
This past fall, Steve Lacy received his first #1 with his hit single Bad Habit, shortly after he started his TikTok famous tour. The ill-managed yet lucrative tour became a hit on the internet after multiple viral moments, including Lacy throwing a fan’s camera and yelling at his fans for not knowing the lyrics. Luckily, Iattended neither of these performances, and his show in Philadelphia went very well compared to videos I saw online. My overall experience was very good, other than the pit tickets being oversold, leading little room to move. Lacy put on an amazing performance and even played the fan favorite Love 2 Fast for the first time in years. I had a great time at Steve Lacy’s first sold-out tour, and I look forward to seeing him later this summer in New York.
Rating: 9.2/10
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Kendrick Lamar: The Big Steppers Tour
Last May, Kendrick Lamar released his long-awaited and deeply personal fifth studio album, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. Later that summer, Kendrick began his first world tour since 2018, accompanied by fan favorite Baby Keem and Tanna Leone. Lamar lived up to his previous tours as he put on a complete spectacle through creative set design, complex choreography, and expansive setlist. The concert was constructed like a musical, as it followed Lamar escaping a figurative box which resembled his own head. Lamar’s performance gave dedicated fans insight into how Lamar has spent his past five years. Junior William Maschler attended the concert with me and shared, “Kendrick put on an amazing performance, and I was surprised at how talented Baby Keem was as well since I had never listened to him before.” A highlight for many at the concert was when Lamar brought out Baby Keem to deliver a earth-shattering performance of Family Ties. Lamar brought untamed and unmatched energy to Wells Fargo Center that night and I am eager to see him this summer at the Governors Ball Music Festival in New York City.
Rating: 9.6/10
