There was certainly “a room full of people” at Sombr’s Thursday night concert in Chicago. With an audience composed primarily of teenage girls clad in black tops or Sombr merch, attendees crammed into the venue, with some having lined up for hours to get as close to Sombr as possible.

As soon as the lights dimmed and an extremely tall microphone stand (to match Sombr’s 6-foot-7 height) was placed on stage at Radius Chicago, the crowd erupted in cheers and phones were quickly taken out.  

While he may be known for producing viral TikTok sounds, Sombr’s performance proved his music surpasses social media trends. His song lyrics are relatable, and his sound fresh and catchy. 

Opening with “i wish i knew how to quit you,” the venue bustled with excitement. 

Sombr’s “Late Nights and Young Romance Tour” has been a hit since it started its North American leg in September. The tickets sold out quickly, causing him to update some of his venues to fit more people, including the Chicago show.

Even when I didn’t know the words to a song, I still enjoyed the performance thanks to Sombr’s strong stage presence while jumping around the stage, playing with the microphone and inviting fans to talk to him between songs. 

Sombr’s music took on a new and exciting quality in person as he performed songs off his debut album, “I Barely Know Her.” His intense, often personal lyrics about heartache make it clear he’s passionate about the stories he tells through his songs — and this was especially apparent as he played “12 to 12” as his closer. 

Red lights and a glittering disco ball flashed as Sombr danced around the stage in the last minutes of his performance, leaning on his mic stand and eventually stepping into the crowd. With “12 to 12” being one of his most popular songs, the live performance of it was exciting and kept the audience’s energy up even as the concert was ending. 

However, there were moments where he seemed to be enjoying his performance more than the audience did. Many people were unsure of the lyrics to some of his newer and less popular songs, like “we never dated.” It felt like there were more people taking video recordings or maneuvering through the crowd for a better view than dancing and singing along. 

Even so, Sombr’s enthusiasm stayed high throughout the entire performance, whether he was spontaneously playing the piano or hopping onto an elevated surface to dance.

His fame on social media platforms like TikTok may have brought him to the stage, but in a way, these online apps seem to be limiting him. A major part of Sombr’s talent comes from lyrics that many people, especially teens and young adults, can relate to. 

Often singing about heartbreak and relationship problems, the words he writes carry meaning behind them that stems from his own experiences. The emotion in his performance makes it clear that he cares about the words he sings. However, this may be overlooked by people who go to the concert wanting to hear that one song from TikTok. 

Support for Sombr has skyrocketed in recent months, and this concert was a testament to his skill as an artist beyond the realm of social media. Even though this tour supports only his first album, there is a clear future for Sombr in the music industry. Coming off his win for Best Alternative at the MTV Video Music Awards and the growing hype and demand for his concerts, it will be exciting to see where Sombr goes next. 

Email: helenryan2028@u.northwestern.edu 

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