Conan Gray brought his 2022 World Tour to The Rave/Eagles Club Wednesday night. Fans, consisting mostly of teenage girls, filled the venue for the 23-year-old pop singer’s sold-out show.
Canadian singer bülow started the night with an electrifying set, including her song “You & Jennifer,” which found success on TikTok.
As Gray took the stage, to say the crowd went wild would be an understatement. The young screams were ear-shattering as Gray began the show with the angsty coming-of-age anthem “Wish You Were Sober” off of his debut album, “Kid Krow.”
The show continued with the upbeat “Telepath” and shifted towards a depressing tone (his words, not mine) with songs like “Comfort Crowd” and “Astronomy,” which artist Taylor Swift deemed an “ethereal work of art.”
Right after singing “Affluenza,” Gray began to read signs in the audience. He found a specific sign that caught his eye and began whispering to the audience member. After an agreement, he raised his microphone.
“Would you like to go to prom with Jordan?” Gray asked the audience member’s partner.
The crowd cheered in adolescent delight as Gray helped with the promposal — to say I felt old would be an understatement.
After the lovey-dovey moment, Gray sat back on a stool and began to get sentimental. He explained that he felt different than other kids growing up and how that affected his mental health.
“The fact that I’m here to sing for you guys is proof that it does get a lot better,” Gray shared. “It is proof that there is joy and light within the darkness.”
After his monologue, the emotional song “The Story” felt much more personal. Gray brought listeners to tears with the stripped-back performance, showcasing his cathartic vocals.
The atmosphere changed as Gray performed his latest single, “Jigsaw.” The rock-influenced song, complete with shredding electric guitar, created waves of headbanging in the crowd.
The rockstar vibe continued to grow stronger as the song transitioned smoothly into “People Watching.” Fans screamed along to the song that illustrates a lovelorn Gray, alone and waiting for someone to sweep him off his feet.
“I want to feel all that love and emotion,” audience members belted back at the singer as he held the microphone out. “Be that attached to the person I’m holding. Someday I’ll be falling without caution, but for now, I’m only people watching.”
Gray hopped off of the stage and stood on the barricade to join the crowd in the sing-along. He ran to give high-fives across the entirety of the front row before returning to his position on stage.
“This is my last song,” Gray winked to the audience. “And I am not lying to you.”
Gray danced around the stage with high energy as he performed upbeat bedroom pop banger “Maniac.” He jumped, kicked and flailed his body to fit the fed-up feeling of the song.
There was an uproar as Gray came back on stage in a plaid skirt and black sweater vest. Phones shot up to record as Gray began to strum the beginning chords to his viral hit, “Heather.” He delivered an emotional rendition of the song, which was his first Billboard chart entry.
On the last chorus, Gray connected with fans one last time as he pointed and sang the lyrics to lucky people throughout the venue.