The pop girls of Phoenix (and let’s not forget the pop guys) packed Crescent Ballroom on a Sunday night when Daniel Seavey’s Second Wind Tour visited the Valley. The former Why Don’t We singer has struck out on his own and with an arsenal of solo music, the fans were more than ready for him to turn up the already warm temperatures in Arizona.
Newcomer kylekelly started things off with an energetic set, weaving upbeat music with honest lyrics for a moment that really got the crowd hyped up. With only a few released songs ahead of his upcoming debut EP, many fans in the room already knew the words to “my little heart <3” and “OMG” and they all screamed along to his take on Sixpence None the Richer’s “Kiss Me”. There was plenty of music ahead but kylekelly left his mark on the early crowd and they all clamored for more at the merch table after his set.
Shane Boose- better known by his stage name sombr- is another rising star capturing the hearts and minds of young fans across the country on this tour. The introspective singer meshes an undeniable charisma with emotional songs that held the crowd spellbound during his set. He has amassed an impressive amount of music in only a few short years and fans were thrilled to sing along to their favorites like “i don’t know you anymore”, “back to friends” and even the recently-released “undressed”. Sombr also stepped away from the microphone to chip away at the keys and the guitar alongside his impressive backing band- another addition to this tour that had the fans screaming for more.
Daniel Seavey transformed the intimate Crescent Ballroom stage into a Hollywood production, complete with marquee lights and a plethora of instruments for him to flit between throughout the set. The multi-talented singer showed off his repertoire of instrumental skills on guitar, bass, keys, drums and even a funky electric cello as he delighted the room full of shrieking fans. Opening with “Waves” and “Sunny Isles”, Seavey was comfortable and confident in front of the audience, rolling his hips and jumping to get everyone pumped up.
Seavey definitely blurs the lines between artist and fans, hopping onto the barricade to be even closer to the audience and talking casually to the smiling faces on the barricade with their good-natured heckles. It made the show feel even more special to those who have waited to see him perform after a long time away from Phoenix.
The middle of the set was a roulette game, starting with a fanmade sign to choose the night’s surprise cover. Seavey impressed everyone by using his loop pedal to quite literally construct the songs in real time, picking One Direction’s “Story of My Life” to build from the ground up. The set then continued with “Sleeping with the Lights On” and a solo take on Why Don’t We’s “Fallin (Adrenaline)” for the longtime fans of the group in the crowd.
With some group members, it’s difficult to untangle each individual from the big picture of the group but Seavey holds his own on the stage. He commands attention and holds it with his jaw-dropping falsettos and vast array of skills- plus his charm cannot be denied while his smile lights up the room. The night seemed to end far too abruptly with “Can We Pretend that We’re Good?” and “Other People”- despite the heat and the dry air, it looks like Seavey will be adding Arizona to the top of the list for his next tour.
