Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, a band excelling in the Americana genre, headlined the Neptune in March. The Find Your People Tour charmed fans from Kentucky to Solana Beach to Nashville. Named after their song, “Find Your People,” it incorporated the spirit of that song, whose words include: In a world of strangers, you don’t know who to trust/ All you see is danger, tryna find what you lost/ You can’t go it alone, everybody needs help/You gotta find your people, then you’ll find yourself.
May 14, 2024 – K-Pop idols Tomorrow X Together, comprised of Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Huening Kai, set the Tacoma Dome ablaze on the opening night of their USA Act: Promise North American tour.
The near full-capacity show was packed with MOAs (Moments of Alwaysness, the TXT fanbase) of all ages, with their coordinated lightsticks in hand. Fans were cheering and eagerly anticipating the start of the show.
The stage setup was a massive production, extending midway into the main floor to give every fan an up-close experience. Members leaned down toward the audience while singing, and confetti blasters showered the crowd in colorful streams. One section of the stage even elevated during some songs, adding layers of excitement as members moved on and off stage for costume changes.
Between songs, themed videos showcased each member and set the ambiance for the next performance. Costume changes aligned with each set’s theme, ranging from casual street style and coordinated black-and-white outfits with hooded capes to traditional hanbok and edgy leather for the more intense numbers.
Throughout the show, the group engaged with the audience, sharing their excitement about their first USA tour, discussing their songs, and enjoying playful interactions. At one point, the audience chanted, “TXT, I love you, Moments of Alwaysness,” showcasing the notorious volume of Seattle/Tacoma fans.
The setlist was long and packed with new music from their latest releases, the 6th Mini Album ‘minisode3: Tomorrow’ and ‘minisode 3: Tomorrow with Remixes’, as well as older fan favorites since the group’s debut in 2019. A highlight was Yeonjun and Soobin’s smoldering dance routine for ‘The KILLA (I Belong to You)’, which drew some of the loudest screams of the night, clearly winning the audience’s approval.
The show lasted a little over two hours, featuring spectacular laser lighting, fog, pyrotechnics, and dynamic lighting effects. When they announced their final song, ‘See You There Tomorrow,’ fans erupted in cheers and danced in celebration. As the group said their farewells and left the stage, some fans began to leave, only to realize an encore was coming. Seasoned fans know never to leave a K-Pop show when the “last song” is announced for the first time, and this show was no exception.
Tomorrow X Together continues their first USA tour as part of their world tour, Act: Promise, through early June. It’s definitely a show worth seeing, promising to leave you with lasting memories.
Act Promise USA Tour Dates: 14 MAY 2024. Tacoma, WA. 18 MAY 2024. Oakland, CA. 21 MAY 2024. Los Angeles, CA. 22 MAY 2024. Los Angeles, CA. 26 MAY 2024. Houston, TX. 29 MAY 2024. Atlanta, GA. 01 JUNE 2024. New York, NY. 02 JUNE 2024. New York, NY. 05 JUNE 2024. Rosemont, IL. 06 JUNE 2024. Rosemont, IL. 08 JUNE 2024. Washington, DC.
TACOMA SETLIST: Deja Vu 9 and Three Quarters (Run Away) 0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) Devil by the Window Sugar Rush Ride Farewell, Neverland Chasing That Feeling Magic New Rules LO$ER=LO♡ER Ghosting Thursday’s Child Has Far To Go Trust Fund Baby Quarter Life The Killa (I Belong to You) Back for More (TOMORROW X TOGETHER & Anitta cover) (txt ver.) Tinnitus (Wanna be a rock) (dance break ver.) PUMA Good Boy Gone Bad Growing Pain Dreamer Deep Down I’ll See You There Tomorrow
Encore: Magic Island Miracle Cat & Dog (english ver.) MOA Diary (Dubaddu Wari Wari)
March 10th, Award-winning rapper and hip-hop sensation Nicki Minaj electrified Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena with her Pink Friday 2 Tour, marking her first performance in the city since 2012. The sold-out show transformed the arena into a vibrant sea of pink, with fans decked out in the tour’s signature color, celebrating Minaj’s triumphant return.
Nicki Minaj, a frequent nominee and winner at prestigious award shows like the AMAs, BET Awards, ASCAP Awards, Grammys, Billboard Awards, and People’s Choice Awards, continues to dominate the music scene. Her 2023 album, ‘Pink Friday 2’, has been a massive success, and the Barbz (Minaj’s loyal fans) were thrilled to hear many of its tracks featured in the night’s setlist, alongside her greatest hits from over the years.
The Pink Friday 2 Tour is an ambitious 56-date world tour, with numerous shows already sold out, highlighting Minaj’s global appeal. The evening kicked off with a DJ spinning a mix of modern and old-school jams, setting the mood with dance-offs on the main floor. Even the Backstreet Boys made it onto the playlist, ensuring there was something for everyone, including those less familiar with Minaj’s music.
The stage setup was nothing short of spectacular, featuring a massive three-level structure and a runway extending three-quarters the length of the main floor. The lighting, drenched in shades of pink, blue, and red, added to the vibrant atmosphere.
Minaj made a dazzling entrance in a figure-hugging glittery dress with a dramatic train, which she soon swapped for a stunning bodysuit paired with matching glitter boots. Throughout the performance, she was accompanied by energetic dancers who kept the crowd’s energy levels sky-high.
Engaging with the audience, Minaj frequently strutted and danced along the runway, bringing herself closer to the fans who danced and sang along with hands raised high. The setlist was an impressive 35-song marathon, featuring a break during which artists Monica and Tyga took the stage, performing six and five songs respectively, giving Minaj a well-deserved breather.
As the show drew to a close, Minaj paused to express her gratitude to the Seattle crowd, saying, “Seattle, you were everything I dreamed.” Her heartfelt words were the perfect ending to a night filled with unforgettable performances and a palpable sense of excitement.
Seattle Setlist:
Set 1: Gag City (Song played from tape) I’m the Best Barbie Dangerous FTCU Beep Beep Hard White Press Play Win Again We Go Up Big Difference Pink Birthday Feeling Myself Favorite Cowgirl RNB High School Needle Ganja Burn (video interlude) Chun-Li Red Ruby Da Sleeze Forward From Trini / Black Barbies Barbie World (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua cover) Roman’s Revenge Monster (Kanye West cover) Are You Gone Already (video interlude) Fallin 4 U Right Thru Me Save Me Here I Am Let Me Calm Down Nicki Hendrix
Set 2: Super Freaky Girl Anaconda Pink Friday Girls Super Bass Play Video The Night Is Still Young Moment 4 Life Starships
March 1st was a typical Friday night for most people in Seattle, but for everyone in attendance at the Showbox at the Market, March 1st came to be known as ‘Grace Day.’ The audience may have thought they knew what they were in for, but they had no idea.
With electric performances from start to finish, Brittney Spencer kicked off the night by introducing the crowd to her debut album My Stupid Life. As soon as Brittney was on stage, it was like watching a comic book debut (like New Mutants #98, for my nerds) in real life – the moment she appeared, you couldn’t imagine the storyline without her. And when I say from the moment Brittney was on stage, I mean the moment she was on stage the front row already had their hands up and clapping. She barely made it a few songs in before the lighters were in the air; with songs like ‘I Got Time’ that celebrate new love, ‘Bigger Than the Song’, a tribute to the inspirations that got her here (and whose ranks she will join one day soon), and the hell-yes anthem ‘First Car Feeling,’ she had the crowd swaying in the palm of her hand.
Grace Potter – photo by Kirk Stauffer
Brittney Spencer is music’s newest alchemist, spinning gold by tapping into that coveted, elusive formula of blending the sounds and feelings of the music we grew up to with her own soulful and authentic style in a way that feels new, yet familiar at the same time; from the lovesick songs to the Friday night party tracks to the girl power anthems – it’s the kind of music that you will listen to for decades and share with the next generation.
Some say ‘game recognize game,’ and there couldn’t be a more perfect example than the story of how Brittney Spencer and Grace Potter met in a hot tub and immediately knew they would not only be friends, but also go on tour together. And this ain’t just any ol’ buddy comedy when it comes to these two ladies – no way, with Brittney ridin’ shotgun and Grace in the driver’s seat, it’s more like Thelma and Louise – two badass women putting the pedal to the medal and making a getaway with guitars instead of cars.
Brittney joined Grace for only five shows on her Mother Road tour – Seattle was fortunate to be one of the stops, because Brittney Spencer and Grace Potter truly are a match made in musical heaven. Not only is there a palpable deep mutual respect between the two artists, but there is also a special vibe you can feel in their music; maybe it’s partly the fact that Jordan West played drums and kept the rhythm for both their acts (!), or maybe it was when Grace pulled Brittney back on stage to duet ‘Little Hitchhiker’ from Mother Road and ‘Reaching Out’, one of Grace’s favorite songs from My Stupid Life; or when she pointed out that Brittney chose an excellent name for her debut album (everyone in attendance agreed). Many of us – GP included – knew that we were witnessing a star on the rise, and when she is playing sold-out stadiums someday soon, we will get to say we saw her up-close and personal in an intimate venue before she became a supernova.
With a healthy mix of new cuts from Mother Road – such as ‘Lady Vagabond,’ ‘Ready Set Go,’ and ‘Good Time’ – and songs from days past with the Nocturnals like ‘The Lion the Beast the Beat,’ ‘Treat Me Right,’ an absolutely killer cover of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Gold Dust Woman,’ and show-closer ‘Paris (Ohh La La)’, GP picked up where Brittney left off and drove the show like she stole it.
You don’t have to know GP’s musical history – the numerous iconic artists she has worked with, the number of Grammys she has been nominated for (and won), the globe-trotting tours she has embarked upon – to know that she is something special when you see her perform under a spotlight. Just knowing that she is a former Seattle resident (all the good ones are) is enough to know that she is a real one, but when she gets on stage… damn, does she proves it.
First off, you don’t just see Grace Potter on stage – you feel her on stage. The moment she has a guitar in her hands or gets her fingers on some keys the energy in the room lifts and takes off with her music, and you know you’re cruisin’ with a skipper that has done this road trip many times before. In more ways than one, Grace reminds you of other groundbreaking artists – Stevie Nicks and Sheryl Crow come to mind, with their natural talent as songwriters and the way they expertly use their voices as an extension of their music – she is a force of her own nature. Absolutely bursting with charisma, swagger, and stage presence, Grace has the easy, care-free vibe of someone that knows she belongs in front of a crowd because she’s damn good at it. With stories that are as equally hilarious as they are interesting, a wardrobe that is as sly and confident as her sense of humor, boundless energy and seemingly endless musical talent, GP has assumed her throne as the new queen of the sonic road trip. If you find yourself on the Mother Road and there is a stop with Grace Potter’s name on it, do not miss that exit.
