There’s something about Troye Sivan’s freedom and artistic expression that so many young people connect with on a deep level…it’s even laid out in one of his most well-known songs, “Youth,” where in the chorus he proclaims, “My youth is yours.” This remains true on multiple levels, as Sivan’s initial fame as a YouTube personality means that he’s lived most of his life in the spotlight, which directly translates in some way to the common experience of every young person on social media today. The entire concert of Troye Sivan’s Suburbia tour followed through on the idea of celebrating the possibilities of modern innocence.
The show began with an impressive and uplifting opening act by Astrid S (who celebrated her 20th birthday that same day, and caked herself on stage at the end of her set), followed by the unexpected arrival of Sivan’s parents, who recorded and danced through the show along with the crowd from the Uptown Theater balcony. Sivan took the stage and began speaking the melodious language of Blue Neighborhood, his year-old debut album that continues to impress in its sound and relevancy.
Sivan began the show with “Wild,” the same song opening the album. Sivan flowed across the stage seamlessly, despite being a relatively new performer, his dancing to the bass between verses as equally entertaining as his vocals, which were notably interchangeable to the album’s recording. The show progressed in a somewhat random order through the album, including “Bite,” “Too Good,” and “for him.,” utilizing the bassist and keyboardist for the female backup voices previously reserved for fellow singers like Betty Who and Alex Hope on the album.
Before “Heaven,” a song about his coming out experience several years ago, Sivan addressed how a portion of the ticket sales for each show are going toward The Ally Coalition, an LGBT charity cause. He thanked the audience for their support to a thundering cheer from the crowd.
The stage itself was a force to be reckoned with for smaller concerts; the backdrop for Sivan and the musician’s space featured a wall of moving photos, words, and colors,
depending on the song or transition. For instance, Sivan opened “The Quiet” with an explanation of the song’s meaning in the darkness, and then the wall behind him blared to life with a bright, static pattern, perfectly matching the feel of the song with a strong visual mood.
While the show was on the short side as far as concerts go (there was only one album to perform, after all), there was a collective feeling of awe and excitement among the crowd. The general impression felt at the end of the concert was not a ‘Goodbye’, but more of a ‘See you next time’, because no one leaving Uptown Theater that night felt like Troye Sivan’s music career is going anywhere but up.