Destroy Lonely Made the Crowd Want To Go “FOREVER” Tour On His Tour
Destroy Lonely performed at Soma in San Diego, California on Monday, December 9th. The month tends to be a last hooray for artists as they unwind with the upcoming holidays and Destroy Lonely knew that. His performance that night was nothing short of an electrifying experience that had the perfect vibes that embodied the essence of the current run of his Forever Tour. Soma is known as a musty, barebones venue but it’s iconic nonetheless. You won’t find air conditioning in this venue but you’ll find artists that perform to thousands of fans that are raging with them. Tonight was no exception for the ATL rapper. Destroy Lonely had a stage presence that was awe-inspiring but chaotic, which has become a trademark of his live shows. The very moment that the lights turned off and the first song started playing on the speakers, the energy turned up to another level and the room’s vibes got higher and higher after every song.
His longtime DJ/collaborater, Lil 88, accompanied Destroy Lonely and his presence elevated the entire experience. His beats created a canvas for Destroy Lonely’s auto-tuned, melodic raps, to channel as a brush to paint a portrait. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but Lonely was creating so much with his words that it led to a picture in everyone’s head that they couldn’t help but to admire. The chemistry between these two were undeniable. Lil 88’s had these crazy transitions that helped provide a constant flow of energy, while adding intricacies to the live show that only enhanced Destroy Lonely’s breakneck but addicting sound.
The set list was a medley of classics from Destroy Lonely’s catalog. It was a balance between well-known fan favorites with a mix of some deep cuts that kept the audience wanting more after every song. He played some of my favorites like “NEVEREVER”, “NOSTYLIST”, and “raver” but every song had the crowd going bananas. What put everyone over the edge for all the real ones though was the inclusion of some less popular gems and unreleased material that truly set the show apart. Fans who were stans of Destroy Lonely were treated to what felt like a playlist full of their favorite songs from him that demonstrated how diverse of an artist he is. He effortlessly kept the energy levels high by switching between high-energy trap anthems and mesmerizing but haunting introspective ballads. The audience’s excitement was contagious, as you could hear from all the way in the back of how everyone was singing along to every word. The crowd’s collective energy acted as a conductor that helped elevate the show to even greater heights.
Destroy Lonely’s performance was the embodiment of pure chaos followed by stints of reflective, emotional storytelling. The crowd went absolutely bonkers during the drops of certain songs, with some of the loudest reactions coming during “NOSTYLIST”. There were so many high-octane moments during his set that were matched with tender, more personal songs, which allowed both the audience and Destroy Lonely a moment of clarity, creating an enhanced, emotional dynamic that added so many layers to the performance. Destroy Lonely’s ability to juggle these extremes with such ease shows how talented he is as not only a rapper but a storyteller, luring the audience into an experience that they would never forget.
One of the most impressive parts of the show was the energy between Destroy Lonely and the audience. Unlike many live performances where the audience remain pretty chill and don’t engage too much, this concert was unlike that, however. The fans seemed to be entranced by the spell that Destroy Lonely cast through his music. The crowd was locked in from the very moment he came onto the stage, to the raucous anthems, and even the somber, more introspective parts of the set. This concert solidified my opinion on how Destroy Lonely has a unique ability to create something special between him and his fans. It felt more of a communal experience than a concert. He made it seem like it was more than just the music.
As the set began to unwind down, it was pretty prevalent that Destroy Lonely had displayed why he’s one of the most exciting acts in current rap landscape. The way he’s able to blend these experimental sounds but maintain mainstream appeal is awe-inspiring. Despite being one of the bigger artists in the genre, his willingness to take risks sonically solidifies Destroy Lonely as one of the best hip-hop performers out there currently.
The Forever tour has quickly revealed itself as not only just a concert but a memorable night for anyone that comes. It’s a show that allows fans to revel in Destroy Lonely’s hard work and determination. The San Diego stop showed that even with it being the holiday season, Destroy Lonely wasn’t taking it easy. Destroy Lonely is creating a legacy with this tour, and he’s getting better after every stop. His San Diego show was living proof to his growth, both as not only an artist but as a performer, and left not only myself, but everyone else in attendance eagerly waiting for the next time he goes on tour.