Page 30 - Black Velvet Magazine Issue 105

BV105 concerts pg 30-33.qxp_BV105 pg 30 30/12/2021 03:48 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 30
YUNGBLUD – BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY, 15.10.21
Since releasing his debut EP in 2018, YUNGBLUD, AKA Dominic Har- There’s a recording before ‘Mars’, where you’re asked ‘Ever felt like
rison, has captured the hearts of millions of music fans around the world. you’re an alien?’ before being told to look around as everyone in the room
And when you take a listen to his music and hear him speak it’s no wonder is your family and they will love you for being exactly who you are. The
why. Everything he says and does is real. He is unapologetically himself. lavish song takes you on a thrilling journey, a journey where you can feel
But YUNGBLUD is more than just Dom Harrison, it’s a whole community, the unity in the room, as everyone sings in unison. By this point, Dom is
where young people can belong, and where, just like Dom, you can be now wearing a skirt. He takes control of the Nirvana-esque ‘Fleabag’,
yourself, you can wear what you want, love who you want, and identify which is very guitar-driven, turning around at the end and lifting up his
however you want. skirt.
After support slots by Daisy Brain and renforshort, a recorded intro is Dom’s speech before ‘Love Song’ about how he couldn’t love anyone
played of Dom speaking to the crowd. His red lips appear on a black back- else when he didn’t love himself is heartfelt and on point. It nearly brings
drop hanging from the stage in a Rocky Horror Picture Show manner. a tear to your eye. He says he spent so long trying to find true love. “Do
“Welcome back,” he begins. “Have you missed me? Because I’ve certainly you know where I found true love? I found it in each and every one of you,
missed you.” He asks four questions, the final one being the most impor- man.” He points to people in the crowd, ‘I love you, and you, and you, and
tant, “Are you ready to celebrate love and unity with every single ounce you…’
of your being?” There’s a huge cheer as the black backdrop drops and By the end of the set, which sees Dom play the piano for ‘Teresa’ and
Dom and his band appear on stage. Kicking into the tantalising ‘Straw- an encore of ‘God Save Me, But Don’t Drown Me Out’ and ‘Machine Gun
berry Lipstick’, the singer, who now wears black lipstick and a red boiler (F**k The NRA)’, we all most definitely love Dom back even more. He has
suit, jumps around the stage from left to right, with a glam punk attitude well and truly earned all of the adoration he has received thus far, provid-
and vivaciousness. He is a star performer and has the crowd in the palm ing a safe place for many in his live shows and music, and something and
of his hands from the get-go. The flamboyant frontman soon kisses his someone to believe in for everyone, no matter what their age, race or sex-
guitarist Adam, who, incidentally, is very talented in his own right, and puts ual orientation, and it’s exciting knowing that this is still just the beginning
on a huge bra that has been thrown onto the stage. He soon unzips his for YUNGBLUD. What is to come will be beyond his and our wildest ex-
boiler suit top, showing a black mesh top underneath. ‘Parents’, ‘I Love pectations, We're sure.
You, Will You Marry Me’ (a song inspired by a declaration of love graffitied YYYYY
on a bridge in Sheffield) and the ska-toned ‘Anarchist’ see the singer con- Shari Black Velvet
tinue to mesmerise the crowd, with Dom asking everyone to crouch down
in ‘Anarchist’ before jumping back up. YUNGBLUD Photos By Shari Black Velvet

CONCERTS