On February 22, R&B artist Pink Sweat$ brought his 'Welcome Home' tour to the House of Blues in Chicago. Since his first EP Honesty in 2018, the singer-songwriter has been crafting an emotional and heartfelt discography. Audience members were certainly excited to be there, many of them dressed in his merch or doused in pink, but the ambiance felt intimate and down-to-earth in a way that’s rare to see these days. Before the main act, the crowd was warmed up with a performance by rising R&B singer Aqyila. Her songs “Bloom” and “Hello” have garnered millions of streams on Spotify (and been used in hundreds of thousands of TikTok videos), and it’s clear from her performance that her success can’t be attributed to the luck of the algorithm. She captivated the room with her smooth, saccharine vocals and set the tone for the rest of the night to come.
Photo Paddy M
Fans incorporated various shades of the headliner’s trademark color into their outfits and accessories, and the atmosphere was laid-back and full of love. Pink Sweat$ took the time to speak with several people in the crowd on a casual level, taking interest in their careers and love lives in a way that felt genuine and heartwarming. With almost seven years as an artist under his belt, the imagery and aesthetic he’s curated for himself is just as refined as his sound. He took the name of the tour an extra step further when it came to the production of the show. Stage lights went up to reveal a house that was painted his signature hue, surrounded by fake shrubs and band members who played from behind a picket fence. It was an endearing and lighthearted touch that only elevated his performance.
Audience members were treated to a setlist that spanned the singer’s career from the beginning to the present day. His hits like “Honesty” and “At My Worst” had everyone’s full attention, but more upbeat pop-infused tracks like “Icy” and a few covers (including Earth, Wind & Fire’s “September” and Mario’s “Let Me Love You”) had everyone moving and singing along. Love is a central theme in his music, and you could feel it all throughout the room. Pink Sweat$ has a voice that was made for emotional storytelling, and he excels at what he does. While his personality can be read as humble and friendly, his talent as both a vocalist and songwriter is nothing to be modest about. His technical skills mixed with the effort put into the stage setup paints an image of someone who respects his craft and takes it seriously.
Photo Paddy M
The mood for the evening was positive and easygoing, reflective of the artist on stage and the music he creates. Fans tend to mirror their favorite artists to a certain degree, and while the audience was clearly excited to be there, they all seemed ready to let loose and just enjoy the music and good vibes. The aesthetic surrounding his music is warm and inviting, and it creates a lovely energy to be surrounded with. Hearing tracks like “Coffee” sung in the front yard of this two-dimensional suburban scene created an experience that’s memorable, unique to this artist, and absolutely worth seeing live. His strengths as a singer and songwriter are undeniable regardless of whether or not you see one of his shows, but his genuine personality really makes his performances one-of-a-kind.
Photo Paddy M
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