Omar Apollo has been on some of my playlists since his debut EP Stereo released in 2018, so when I heard I had the opportunity to see him live and write a review on his concert, I knew I had to jump to that opportunity. Although I don’t listen to him much anymore, it’s safe to say my admiration for this singer’s incredible talent has resurfaced.
Lights and distorted music heightened my senses like never before as I stood touching the stage, waiting to be able to capture some photos. The big, white curtain—which kept Apollo hidden—lit up the entire venue as different hues of light bounced off of it. Fans chanting his name over and over again is a sound I truly feel I will never forget. I could physically feel their excitement as everyone waited for the curtain to unveil him.
As the lights dimmed and the crowd’s energy kept rising, a massive white curtain hung between Apollo and his eager fans, building a suspense that rippled through the venue. Distorted music pulsed through the speakers, while vibrant flashes of colorful lights lit up the entire venue. The energy in the crowd was electric, with fans chanting his name louder and louder, their voices blending with the music, which is a sound I truly will never be able to forget.
Apollo opened his concert by performing his song “Be Careful With Me” off of his newest album, God Said No, which was released in June of this year. The song delivers a heartfelt and vulnerable message about emotional fragility and trust in relationships. The song’s smooth blend of R&B and soulful melodies truly shows his plea for caution when it comes to his heart, reflecting the pain of past betrayals. Apollo’s choice for this song to be the opening track was a pleasantly great choice as it set the tone for the rest of the concert since, as his spotify bio states, “longing is an art form–and he’s mastered it.” Everything in this first performance underscored how passionate Apollo is when it comes to his lyrics. His backup dancers conveyed an incredible amount of emotion that combined perfectly with the lyrics being sung, and the longing in his performance resonated deeply, touching every person in the audience.
Although his lyrics typically underscore sadness and despair, which usually call for a more mellow background, Apollo performed a few upbeat songs that led the crowd to dance and sing along. This was especially intriguing to see while he performed his song “Done With You,” also from his newest album, as it tells the story of him finally deciding he is done with the person he is in a relationship with and begs them to let him live in peace. I feel this song really resonated with a lot of the people in the audience, as most of them were people in their late teenage years up to their twenties, when life feels as if it is falling apart and relationships become learning experiences.
Along with resonating with “Done With You,” I also felt seen as he sang a few of his songs in Spanish, such as “En El Olvido” and “Dos Uno Nueve (219).” Being latina, I had the time of my life hearing these songs live, especially being right next to my Mexican boyfriend, who was also amazed by Apollo’s clear Mexican culture shining through his Spanish songs. Apollo even had a little competition with members of the audience on who could perform a better grito than him, which was actually very impressive to hear as each fan who gave it a shot was clearly heard all throughout the venue.
Despite almost canceling at the last minute, I am forever grateful to have been able to hear Omar Apollo’s angelic voice live. I was left with excitement and joy while simultaneously feeling heartbroken by his lyrics as I walked out of the venue, and I remembered why I began listening to him in the first place back in 2018. I know that everybody who attended left completely satisfied, as well as yearning for the next time Apollo sets food in The Pavillion.
