“When is Hunxho coming on?”
That’s what fans kept asking security in St. Petersburg last Thursday night as Billboard-charting artist Hunxo brought his first North American tour to Jannus Live.
Although relatively new to the music industry, the 24-year-old has already amassed a young, loyal following. With no openers, Hunxho (pronounced “huncho”) graced the stage around 9:30 p.m., and in a sea of phone lights and screams, kicked off his one hour set.
Opening with one of his most popular songs “48 Laws of Power,” the audience’s energy shifted from dormant to ecstatic as they chanted every word. In front of a consistent backing track, Hunxo used his voice and the collective voice of the crowd, to harmonize and uncover potent emotion. Before jumping into hits such as “7am” and “Holy Water”, it was clear that Hunxho and his DJ were hyped to be in Florida, “Y’all excited for Hunxho?! Who are the real Hunxho fans here!?”
After finishing these first few tracks amongst great enthusiasm and attention from the crowd, Hunxho walked off stage.
Maybe it was a breather, but the pause was a little perplexing only 15 minutes into his set. Nonetheless, his return 10 minutes later seemed to not have missed a beat, as he moved into songs like “U The 1”, “Bad Bad”, and “Water Park.” To keep the crowd’s energy high, Hunxho decided to grace his fans at the standing area barrier, interacting with the crowd, taking photos, and singing directly to lucky members of the audience, a tactic he deployed throughout the majority of the show.
Finishing with songs “Yes” and “Your Friends.” Hunxho moved back onto the stage and in an array of lights, confidently brought the show to its conclusion. Not to mention Hunxho was looking fresh as he moved across the stage, dressed in a black t-shirt, gray flared pants, and a plethora of diamonds featured on his watch and chains.
Despite the solid performance and phenomenal crowd participation, it was evident that the length and lack of depth in set design, choreography, and general set organization, left supporter’s longing for more. Regardless, Hunxho clearly does a great job effortlessly navigating the show with a blend of elegance, tenacity, and fervor that showcases a charisma that underpins his masterful fusion of provocative and sensuous Hip-Hop-R&B. There’s no doubt that Hunxho will be able to continue fostering his fan base, and it is exciting to imagine where Hunxho will be in a few years.
Setlist
48 Laws of Power
7 Am
Aint Hard to Love
Heartless
Holy Water
U The 1
Bad Bad
Looking for Love
Water Park
Let’s Get It (ft. 21 Savage)
Highly Performing
Brainstorming
By Tomorrow
Yes
Your Friends
