On Friday night, Isaiah Rashad’s Lil Sunny’s Awful Road Trip Tour made a pit stop at Boston’s House of Blues.
Before Rashad even hit the stage, the crowd got a fantastic welcome from rising alt-pop star Alemeda. The alt-pop star hyped up the crowd with a set that was a refreshing contrast to the hip-hop vibes of the rest of the night. She brought a fun, electric stage presence and impressive vocals that got the floor moving early, many already knowing the lyrics to her songs.
When it was time for the main event, the lights cut out and the heavy beat of “THE NEW SUBLIME” filled the room. As the opening track of his new album IT’S BEEN AWFUL, it doubled as the perfect intro to the show. The raw lyrics about his internal battles set a deeply personal tone right off the bat, reminding everyone that Zay’s vulnerability is one of his many gifts.
He didn’t rely solely on the new material, though. When the intro to “Free Lunch” hit, the energy in the room shifted entirely. Day-one fans erupted, screaming and chanting “meal ticket, ticket, meal ticket” back at the stage. It was one of the night’s biggest moments and a clear reminder of how long Rashad’s music has resonated with his audience.
My personal favorite performance of the entire night was his song “SAME SH!T,” one of the singles on the newest album. This song goes absolutely crazy live. Zay’s flow and delivery had a magnetic pull. It captured the essence of grinding every day and the struggle to stay on top of things, and the crowd was present for every word.
Isaiah Rashad’s live shows make you feel like you don’t just want to be there; you need to be. He owned the stage without forcing it, effortlessly flowing between his battles and his wins throughout his songs, which made for a show that was anything but “Awful.”
Get your ticket to Lil Sunny’s Awful Road Trip Tour here.
