Blood Orange Dazzles The Stage On The Second Leg Of His Essex Honey Tour
At his D.C. Show, Blood Orange proved that he's a jack of all trades, and master of them all too.by Kellie Louispublished 03/09/2026
At his D.C. Show, Blood Orange proved that he's a jack of all trades, and master of them all too.by Kellie Louispublished 03/09/2026
Often regarded as “your favorite artist’s favorite artist”, there was no shortage of excitement for the opening show of the second act of his tour, named after his most recent album release from last August. The album is an in-depth exploration of grief and reflection following the loss of his mother and return to his hometown of Essex in the UK. Drawing from his days growing up in Essex, the influence of legendary British artists like The Smiths and Prefab Sprout shines through his work on his newest release.
As the doors opened at 6:30 and showtime neared, I took refuge from the rain outside and joined the crowd of mainly Gen Z fans in the 6,000 person venue. A very excited energy floated around as everyone speculated about what songs Hynes might choose to play for the night. He’d teased on his Instagram story hours before that he was about to perform songs he hasn’t played “in 12 years”, adding to the audience’s anticipation.
The first opener, Tariq Al-Shabir, took to the stage at 7:15pm with soulful R&B and rap tunes, followed by instrumentalist group TLF Trio at 7:45. Although they provided interesting performances, the 30 minute wait between sets left the audience too fatigued to pay much attention. Talking to the people in my section, it was clear that they were just interested in when Blood Orange was going to show up. While TLF Trio performed, one girl even commented, “This just sounds like a bunch of noise”.
Around 9:15pm the lights dimmed for the final time, and Dev Hynes entered the stage to the sound of roaring fans (myself included). The beginning of the show started off slow, as Hynes performed the groovy “I Wanna C U” along with his backing vocalists Eva Tolkin and Ian Isiah (who also appear on his most recent album’s “Countryside”). Another notable performance from the first half of the show was “Vivid Light”. My personal favorite song off Essex Honey, the drum-laden instrumental filled my ears, and singing along to the lyrics with Dev Hynes and 6,000 other people was a cathartic experience, as well as my personal highlight of the performance. Much to my delight, Hynes also busted out his cello to perform the intro of “How Soon Is Now” by The Smiths, a reminder of his early days spent studying classical music.
The second half of the show is where Blood Orange’s musical depth became especially apparent. Pulling from songs as early as his 2013 Cupid Deluxe album, Hynes had the crowd screaming and singing along when songs like “Bad Girls” and “Uncle ACE” played live for the first time in over a decade. The energy in the crowd was palpable and dynamic, often switching from solemn and reflective in one moment to upbeat and dancing in the next.
Hynes was never static on stage, often moving from his cello to his guitar, and his keyboard setup under the color-changing strobe lights. Sometimes taking the backseat on vocals, Eva Tolkin and Ian Isiah filled his place exceptionally well, leaving the crowd stunned and cheering with their angelic harmonies. Ian Isiah’s rendition of “Life” left the crowd especially breathless. It was a powerful, gospel-like rendition that took the vocals of the song to new heights, and showcased Isiah’s singing prowess.
Blood Orange plays the keyboard while vocalists Eva Tolkin and Ian Isiah take lead vocals. Courtesy of @hartleyphoto, Instagram
The end of the show brought the concert to a gentle close. The stage went dark as only Hynes stood illuminated, holding an acoustic guitar. His voice alone reverberated throughout the venue as he performed “The Field”, the dreamy lead single from Essex Honey.
Before playing the final song of the show, Hynes stopped the music to speak to the crowd. It was clear that the themes from his most recent release remained a strong undercurrent as he told the crowd about his visit to a children’s hospital earlier that day, and of the brave families he saw. He urged the audience to practice gratitude, saying “I just want you all to appreciate this life that you have”, before ending with “I Can Go”, the last song on Essex Honey.
Kellie Louis B'29 has currently been jamming to “Technique” by Prefab Sprout.