Concert Review: BROCKHAMPTON at Emo’s

By Aimee Huckeba
Music Journalist

Austin was the fourth show and last Texas date for the boyband BROCKHAMPTON’s Love Your Parents tour. The atmosphere the fans exuded before the sold-out show as the line started to wrap around the venue was vibrant and full of excitement. Before the doors opened, some of BROCKHAMPTON’s crew was outside asking fans questions and filming their responses. The fans were saying how much the boyband means to them and the way the members expressed themselves helped them become who they are. The members of this band are a diverse group of men who come from all over the world and address social challenges or issues such as sexuality, ethnicity and rape culture that they weave into their music and on social media.

Every member plays a vital role from songwriting, production, videography, designing and everything in between. BROCKHAMPTON does all of this by themselves to make sure they are completely authentic with what they release in their own home that they call “The BROCKHAMPTON Factory.” Speaking of what they release, the boyband dropped three full-length albums in 2017, giving us forty-eight songs and hours worth of high quality music known as the SATURATION trilogy. The album making process has been described as the members sitting in Romil Hemnani’s bedroom, where most of the recording happens, and collaborating their creative thoughts on tracks ultimately coming up with their cohesive discography together. The music they create is a melting pot of genres, not afraid to fuse pop and rap with alternative R&B. BROCKHAMPTON is nothing short of revolutionary, just as their concert left me feeling and I have to agree with their lyrics, “best boyband since One Direction.”

The boys did not have an opening act, instead they started off their concert with an instrumental titled “EVANIE” an hour and a half after doors opened. During the instrumental, member Ameer Vann walks around the stage with a forehead light putting on his orange jumpsuit, the outfit all the members wear for this tour. The lights blacked out and the rest of the members rushed to the stage to start this explosive show with their opener “BOOGIE” which is also the first song on their latest album SATURATION III. After this song, Ian Simpson (famously known as Kevin Abstract) tells us they were from San Marcos and me, a San Marcos resident, was quick to join in cheering with the crowd. The members have a high energy on stage that you cannot help but to jump around and sing along to their catchy songs. At this show, “FACE” from SATURATION I was added to the setlist, which is a smooth song where member Joba takes on the chorus and is a fan favorite.

Half way through the set, my excitement rises as I hear the opening beat to the song “GOLD.” This is their most streamed song on Spotify as well as my favorite because it is impossible not to get hyped when it plays with its infectious lyrics. The boyband finished the first part of their show with a melodious piece titled “BLEACH” which is widely known and loved and offers a feature by singer Ryan Beatty (who sadly did not tour with them). There is a two-song break where all of the members leave the stage except Northern Ireland native, Bearface accompanied by his guitar and mood lighting for his ballad drawls “SUMMER” and “TEAM.” The crowd was swaying to his soothing voice and reverb-filled guitar solos.

The final encore of the show contained a heated and packed performance. The boyband closed by singing, “STAR” from SATURATION I, four times! By the time the members walked off stage, the audience was both exhausted from the mosh pits and ready for them to come back out and play another song. After their performance, I feel like I cannot get enough of them and I am already excited to attend another one of their shows in the future. BROCKHAMPTON is the first and best internet-boyband and they are taking the world by storm.

Featured image of Ashlan Grey.