K. Flay Closes out the Year in Houston
Review by Christian Hernandez
As we neared the end of the year, concert goers buzzed with excitement as they packed into the venue, eager to get the party started for the grand finale weekend of 2023. People began pouring into the venue, trying to get the best spot possible near the stage. Many opted to get a drink while others lined up to get some awesome merch. As the showtime neared, we were treated to an energetic and off the wall show from Sabino, an artist from Mexico, who had recently opened up for Rawayana a couple of weeks ago. The crowd was first caught off guard by the introduction to his self-proclaimed “Sab-Hop”, but quickly caught on and were vibing. As he closed out his set, the crowd knew it was only a few moments before it was main event time.
Suddenly, the lights went out. Silence was broken up by the cheering of the fans as a red light emitted from the stage and the supporting band made their way to the stage. Then, K.Flay took the stage, and the crowd exploded in cheers and applause. She opened up with “Are You Serious?”, which was met with the now packed venue singing along with every word. As the song neared its breakdown, you would think the roof was about to come off from all the energy. I’ll admit, I found myself entranced by the music and her performance, forgetting that I needed to get pictures! Her erratic and eruptive movements perfectly matched the music’s energy.
Something I look for and always mention in my reviews of shows are an artist’s stage presence, and K. Flay has had some of the best that I’ve seen. Between each song, she would take the opportunity to converse with the audience, giving stories and backstory on the songs. It helped the crowd connect more with her and the music, building a more intimate environment.
She went through several songs from her latest album “Mono”, as well as songs from her discography, including “Blood in the Cut”, my personal favorite “Can’t Sleep” as well as a cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade”. It didn’t matter which song she played, the crowd kept their energy the entire night!
As the show came to the end, I stayed behind to catch the words of leaving concert goers. I heard many “That was the best concert ever!” and “What a way to end the year!”. I even heard many thank you’s for taking them to the show. Everyone left with a brand new core memory and it’s all thanks to K.Flay’s incredible artistry!
EightBallMag 