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Just a few months ago, Duckwrth was taking the stage at arenas around the U.S., with a coveted spot opening for Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever tour (including a stop at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena). With that touring experience under his belt, the L.A. artist returned to Michigan for an intimate headlining tour stop at Ann Arbor’s The Blind Pig. Here are five moments that stood out from the sold-out gig:
Duckwrth’s Multidimensional Vocals
Well before doors were set to open, a line stretched the length of the block leading up to the venue, full of fans eager to see Duckwrth. The singer emerged to raucous cheers and quickly proved the wide range of his vocal skills. He showed off everything from a speedy flow on “Super Bounce” to a sultry croon on “Mask Off (Feelings)” – all while delivering impeccably smooth dance moves throughout.
Duckwrth’s next record will be the (still yet-to-be-released) Chrome Bull, so the singer took the opportunity to call this show “officially the Chrome Bull listening session.” Of his recently released and forthcoming tracks, highlights included “Ce Soir,” which featured some groovy coordinated dance moves and the empowering, confident “Super Saiyan Wrists.”
Normally, the lead artist introducing the backing band is a quick exercise that garners some polite clapping from the crowd. That was decidedly not the case when Duckwrth gave a shout-out to his crew: Just Liv on backup vocals, Devin on keys, Darryl on drums, and Budda on bass. Each musician received a raucous, prolonged ovation when introduced by Duckwrth, and deservedly so. Just Liv provided expert vocal interplay with Duckwrth on cuts like “Coming Closer” and “Mask Off (Feelings).” Darryl delivered a searing drum solo to close out “FALL BACK.” And Budda and Devin helped set the groove on tracks like “Beg.” “That was amazing,” Duckwrth remarked with a grin as each artist got a sustained cheer.
Throughout, Duckwrth used his well-honed stage presence to get the audience moving. The packed crowd eagerly participated in a call-and-response in “Crush,” bounced energetically through the electrifying hit “Tuesday,” and swayed their arms in sync to “No Chill.”
After briefly departing from the stage, a voice boomed over the PA: “I see you, cancel your Uber – we got one more to go.” Maybe it was feeding off the crowd’s buzzing energy or maybe it was planned, but in any case Duckwrth actually had a few more songs in store for the encore.
“MICHUUL.” started this finale sequence, with the crowd bouncing to Darryl’s robust drum beat. Duckwrth then teased another song: “I need all of you to go insane.”
The crowd gladly obliged to the night’s most dynamic track, the fierce “wil out.” For a few minutes, mayhem ensued, including Duckwrth, Just Liv and Budda furiously headbanging in sync, and Budda shredding on guitar while perched atop the balcony ledge in the crowd, flanking the stage. (Before “FALL BACK,” Duckwrth recalled his skateboarding days in L.A., and this track was a fitting testament to how his wide-ranging style stretches from hip-hop and R&B even to punk rock.) And to close out the show, Duckwrth slowed things out with the grooving “We Outside.”
“Ann Arbor, give it up for your damn selves,” Duckwrth commended the crowd. “You sound amazing tonight.” With such a magnetic stage presence, it’s not hard to imagine this being one of the last times you could see Duckwrth in such an intimate setting.
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