In mid-February, Rex Orange County concluded his North American and UK theatre tour labelled “Finally.” Spanning across a total of 33 shows, I was lucky enough to attend two nights of his concluding shows at London’s famous theatre, the London Palladium.
A show that saw Rex Orange County enforce his latest style of music, it was an hour and a half of singing, dancing and enjoyment. Less traditional than his conventional style of concert, his performance promised variety throughout, seamlessly transitioning throughout the different eras of his discography.
Making it the fourth and fifth times I have seen Rex Orange County live; the style of these concerts were much different to the other I have seen. The first striking difference was the size of the venue, with a capacity of only 2,300, this was a much smaller venue when compared to his previous tours. His last major tour, The Who Cares? Tour, saw venues as large as Gunnersbury Park, which held a staggering 20,000 people. Although the venue was small, it paired well with the intimacy between the music and the fans.
Explaining to RAC Records, Rex Orange County commented that “sonically the new songs lend themselves to being heard in a more intimate and traditional setting.” What I witnessed was not just a concert, but also a theatrical performance, as he narrated the themes of his latest album, The Alexander Technique, whilst integrating songs across his wider discography.
Sonically the new songs lend themselves to being heard in a more intimate and traditional setting
Rex Orange County
Supporting the show was Sean Solomon, a Los Angeles based artist, who unfolds his music with self-made videos projected through a VHS tape system. Solomons performance was very unique, showcasing the best of an independent artists who has just started out in the industry. His niche ability to perform in the way he did, added to the overall theatrical performance that was shown throughout the night.
Opening with ‘Alexander’, the first song from his latest album, Rex came out to the stage met by a doctor and a hospital table. Narrating a story through the song, it depicts his visit to the doctor for back pain, however other issues like addiction and mental health issues are explored from this appointment. This, like many of the songs, were portrayed in a theatrical style, making the performance much more intimate.
This, like many of the songs, were portrayed in a theatrical style, making the performance much more intimate.
As the set went on, including features of Rex Orange County walking through the audience during ‘Therapy,’ the stage curtain lifted and showcased his amazing band. Situated in an imitated traditional Japanese wooden garden house, as seen in the music videos of ‘Finally’ and ‘The Table,’ this was the most intricate set of any Rex concert I have seen.
Opening at different parts of the set, the backdrop behind the door showed the seasons, narrating a change in the songs and moments of the concert. Together the set list and the stage complimented each other very well, with lighting helping to amplify the emotions of the performance.
In my opinion, the set list was very well put together, as he alternated between older and newer songs. With two surprise songs each evening, it gave an element of spontaneity to the audience. On the evenings I went, I heard both renditions of his latest songs in collaboration with Daniel Ceasar called ‘There’s a Field (That’s Only Yours)’ and ‘Rearrange My World.’
I also saw the first and only times that Rex Orange County performed live with Ravyn Lenae in his feature on the hit song ‘Love Me Not.’ For me, my favourite part of the evening was his segment of high energy music, getting the audience grooving and dancing on their feet, as he merged ‘Sunflower,’ ‘Best Friend,’ and ‘Television/ So Far So Good’ together.
When listening to his music through headphones it hits hard but hits even harder when heard live. Rex Orange County is an artist that was made for his songs to be performed live with a band, and this set list ultimately utilised the best of what can be produced live. From the individual riffs of his guitar during ‘Pluto Projector,’ to the solo performance of a Saxophone during ‘Guitar Song,’ it’s truly a musical experience listening to Rex Orange County Live.
it’s truly a musical experience listening to Rex Orange County Live.
Ranking as the one of the best concerts I have attended, this new era of Rex Orange County concerts and music has been welcomed positively from his fans. A progressive step in his musical career, I can only look forward to the next chapter of his journey.
