As a father who goes to somewhere around 60 concerts per year, it’s no surprise that my kids are turning into concert hounds at ages 11 and 13.
They’ve only been to a handful of shows in their short lives, but this week they both reached a milestone that made their concert photographer dad proud: their first repeat performer.
The last concert these two went to was back in September when Conan Gray came to what was then the PNC Music Pavilion in Charlotte’s University City. Their next concert, which took place on Wednesday, was once again Conan Gray — this time at Raleigh’s Lenovo Center.
I can’t blame them. There are plenty of artists I’ve seen multiple times or traveled a considerable distance to see. For my kids, their artist of choice right now is the 27-year-old pop crooner that packs arenas while somehow staying off the radar of most people.
My kids knew of his tour before it was announced. They know all of Conan Gray’s lyrics by heart. They pay attention to the setlist in every city on tour. They guess at what the surprise songs might be at each stop. They knew the words to his new, unreleased song, “The Best,” after the first night it was played live on his Wishbone World Tour last month.
When they mentioned wanting tickets to this Raleigh concert for Christmas, before said tickets went on sale, I thought it was silly. They just saw him live in Charlotte!
Then I thought about it; they’re music fans. Their favorite artist is returning to the general area. Would I travel two hours to see my favorite band or artist? I’ve flown to out-of-state festivals to see some of mine.
So, while we had seen Conan Gray in concert outside at an amphitheater last year, this time around was different. It was indoors in an arena. They knew what to expect, which excited them more. They spent weeks planning their outfits. They made beaded friendship bracelets. They spent days painting yellow lines on a black leather jacket so it would look just like one Conan wears.
My oldest got her nails done. My youngest worked to make her straight hair as wavy as possible. On second thought, excited was an understatement.
After our two-hour drive to Raleigh, and once the lights finally dimmed and Conan took the stage, those kids were in a musical trance. They soaked in every note and sang along to every word. They screamed. They filmed short video clips on their phones. They got excited for every song — even though they already knew which one was coming next.
As for the show itself, for the most part, it was generally the same as last year’s Charlotte show and likely every one he’s hosted in between. Instead of a blue sailor suit, on this night, Conan was wearing a white one. Aside from a few songs, it was the same setlist. Again, he rode a bike out onto the stage, hung from the windmill and had kids in the crowd break a wishbone so they could choose one of the songs he’d perform.
For me, it was a show just like the other — a theatrical performance with solid vocals that showcased a range of his music. I’ll say the opener this time around, Esha Tewari, was enjoyable. She’s someone I’d like to see on a smaller stage and somewhere that would showcase her vocals a bit more.
For my kids, it was transcendent. It was better than the first time. It was a full-on experience. They said it was worth sleeping in the car and getting home at 1 a.m., and that made it worth it for me, too.
Gray’s tour will continue west this month before heading overseas at the beginning of spring, where he’ll remain until the fall, which is to say my kids shouldn’t be expecting another trip to see him perform again in six months.
Setlist
My World
Never Ending Song
Care
Wish You Were Sober
Class Clown
People Watching
The Cut that Always Bleeds
Eleven Eleven
Nauseous
Fight or Flight
Romeo
The Best
The Exit
Heather
Family Line
Connell
Actor
Maniac
Vodka Cranberry
Encore
Memories
Caramel
Be sure to check out Queen City Nerve’s Soundwave, Charlotte’s most comprehensive live music listing, so you don’t miss out on any shows or concerts coming up. And hell, if you’re looking for something else to do, you can check out our events page as well, which runs the gamut of things to do in Charlotte. You don’t ever have to be bored again. You can check out more of Jeff’s pics and live reviews here.
My daughter (12) has seen him now three times and we plan to take advantage of a well timed trip to London to see him this summer. I’m still trying to understand why he still seems so unknown because he is such a talented performer, but more importantly songwriter. I can’t think of another current popstar (minus Swift) who writes so much of their own catalogue. Most importantly his authenticity is such a positive influence on this younger generation.