To start the night, the opener for BoyWithUke, Naethan Apollo, leaped onto stage in what looked like an outfit fit for a fairytale commoner. Not only did this surprise me, but his energy throughout his set was incredible. Apollo was constantly jumping about doing 'a little dancy dance' that everyone could join in with. Audiences are known to pay more attention and feel connected with an artist when they are asked to participate in some way with the performance of a song; Naethan Apollo definitely knew his crowd. 

What struck me was the desire that Apollo had to get close with the crowd. Once some individuals said that they had letters for him, he ran to the front of the stage to find who wrote the many letters to him. Trying to go to the barricade but stopped by security so that they could ensure safety for Naethan. Towards the end of his set, he mentioned that he will be by his merchandise during the break before Boywithuke came onto stage. Apollo said that he wanted to meet as many people as possible. 

Through the night, some thought of their engagement with Apollo and Boywithuke's sets as a therapy session. The audience was told to scream as loud as they could at some points, crack their knuckles as loud in unison, and stick their middle fingers in the air mimicking their anger towards someone given the situations described in the songs performed. Some of these forms of audience engagement are common, but the frequency caught me off guard, in a positive way. 

Think about what you would expect to see at a concert -- sparkles, confetti, friendship bracelets, friends on eachother shoulders -- now take a second to imagine more than that. Fans showed up in banana costumes and Scooby Doo onesies for example. Boywithuke brought a fishing pole on stage with a little colorful fish on the hook. Throwing the line into the sea of fans, whoever caught the fish got reeled onto the stage to have a little meet and greet. 

Switching gears to Boywithuke: double the energy of Naethan Apollo. The ability that he has to control his voice when dancing around the stage, jogging, and jumping is incredible. His performance created a story, another opportunity to connect with the audience: falling in love, worries of rejection, toxic people, growing up in poor situations, and more. For anyone unaware, Boywithuke learned that his crush growing up thought that it was cool to play the ukulele, and immediately he started practicing. Never anticipating to make ukulele his career, he was able to make this childhood crush his girlfriend and make a career from it. 

You never know what opportunity could spark significant importance in your life. We can learn something new from anyone we come in contact with. What a night to reflect on. 

Review & Photos by: Miriam Wasden

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