Khalid
21st November 2019
Spark Arena, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Sarah Kidd. Photography by Chris Zwaagdyk.
Playing his second evening at Spark Arena, Khalid brought to Auckland his Free Spirit tour in celebration of his sophomore album of the same name. But despite his unwavering popularity and flawless delivery, Khalid was last night in danger of being dethroned by his very own support act.
There is a reason that Lucky Daye aka David Debrandon Brown has scooped four Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best R&B album for his debut Painted; the man has infinite spirit.
Having begun his life in a cult where secular music was banned, Lucky Daye instead turned children’s books into songs of his own. Years later, after escaping and relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, Daye began to doggedly pursue his dream of a career in music, soon making it to the Top 20 of American Idol season four before cutting his teeth as a songwriter, composing tracks for such names as Ne-Yo, Ella Mai, Trey Songz and the queen herself, Mary J Blige.
Signing to Keep Cool, Lucky Daye released his first single ‘Roll Some Mo’ in 2018; two EP’s and a debut album a very short time later, and he is well on his way to becoming one of the hottest tickets in town. Dressed in black and accompanied by a three-piece band of such consummate musicianship that they made the front rows salivate, Lucky Daye laid down a set that would echo in people’s hearts and minds long after the show.
Embodying all that is traditional R&B with overtones of serious soul, Lucky Daye’s self-reflective song writing and velvet smooth vocals that transition to falsettos with intoxicating adroitness make for a potent combination that has seen his fans lay their hearts at his feet. Showing Auckland just why he is worthy of those Grammy nominations, Lucky Daye’s set included tracks such as ‘Karma’ where he seamlessly invoked Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’, even adding a few lines from the original song to the end for those that hadn’t quite placed their finger on it. ‘Floods’ a ballad that consumes all, saw Lucky Daye play hype man in the pit as his band soared on the wings of funk driven riffs; the Boyz II Men-esqe ‘Real Games’ expertly crafted, Daye taking the essence of original genre and enthralling the audiences of 2019 with it. Finishing on ‘Roll Some Mo’, a song that is the epitome of Daye as an artist, and it is safe to say that he left a lasting impression on New Zealand.
In comparison, Khalid came across as the affable but middle of the road safe younger brother. Granted at just twenty-one and with his second album only just released, one could say that he is still finding his feet as an artist and as such is afforded the time to linger in his youth, creating music that is pleasant enough with which to colour the backgrounds of his listeners lives. His debut record, American Teen, spoke to his equals, songs such as ‘Location’ and ‘Young Dumb & Broke’ tapping into a direct line of shared experiences.
This is brought to life on stage as Khalid is accompanied by a troupe of six dancers, an obvious friendship shared amongst them, Khalid at one point encouraging one of the women to sing – even though it was obviously not her forte – their shared laughter at her caterwauling adding to the pastel coloured atmosphere of chilled out bliss. ‘8teen’ slid into ‘21’, signalling the transformation that Khalid has made both physically and musically in an almost inconceivable period of just three years.
Accompanied by a live band – an always appreciated feature of any pop/R&B performance – who were relegated to tiered steps on either side, Khalid loped around the stage as a giant screen behind him projected illuminated geometric shapes and reflective images of himself, at other times narrated video interludes were used like miniature intermissions. Despite this however – the screen a wonderfully clever way of keeping a crowd’s attention directed towards the artist – the first half did seem to drag, songs such as ‘Saved’, a track deeply meaningful to Khalid and delivered while seated on a stool soon faded into unmemorable obscurity along with the others. Vocally, Khalid has a voice like cream, it complements everything and is as smooth as silk, his command of the higher octaves coming to him with ease. However, it never quite reaches those impassioned heights that tear at your soul and leave you breathless for more.
Trimming his set list down from the eye-watering thirty or so tracks he has been presenting overseas, the pace began to pick up towards the second half as ‘Location’ gave way to the Marshmello track ‘Silence’, the music, lighting and audience all instantly mainlining the dance infused adrenaline and revelling in the chance to finally let loose, Khalid himself even picking up the pace as he and his dancers bounded across the stage. This vibrancy continued as the Disclosure produced track ‘Talk’ (itself nominated for an upcoming Grammy) saw fans slow grooving to the sumptuous vocals, the anthemic ‘Young Dumb & Broke’ an open invitation to thousands to join in chorus.
The slightly more laid back ‘Saturday Nights’ serenaded Khalid’s admirers farewell, his dancers once again joining him on stage, as together they waved goodbye like high school companions at the end of the school year.
While Khalid cannot be faulted on vocal delivery, his lyricism and very persona that he projects to the greater world one that is rather endearing, there is just something missing when it comes to being a performer worthy of selling out arenas across the world. Perhaps with age it will be found, the hands of time often bringing with them the gift of learned knowledge.
But for now, Khalid and his fans are enjoying basking in the warm and carefree rays of their youth, and honestly who could blame them?
Were you there at Spark Arena for this uplifting contemporary r&b / pop gig? Or have you seen Khalid perform live somewhere else before? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- 8Teen
- 21
- Hundred
- Saved
- My Bad
- Bad Luck
- Bluffin
- Vertigo
- Motions
- Better
- Right Back
- Location
- Silence
- American Teen
- Another Sad Love Song
- 9.13Coaster
- Talk
- Outta My Head
- Young Dumb & Broke
- Eastside
- Love Lies
- OTW
- (Salems Interlude) [encore]
- Saturday Nights [encore]
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