One of alternative’s most beloved artists, Yungblud, has embarked on his 2023 world tour with two fantastic support acts, The Regrettes and Sophie Powers. The alt-rock, pop-punk icon draws a crowd of misunderstood misfit teens and young adults to The Dome at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, CT, where they leave their troubles at the door and let go.
Yungblud – The Regrettes – Sophie Powers
The Dome, Toyota Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, CT – 1 July 2023
Words and Photography: Shannon Wilk
Yungblud
After the crowd was adequately warmed up for the headliner, the stage was set. Yungblud’s stage setup featured beat-up 40-gallon drums spray painted with various designs and sayings such as “fuck the NRA”. The room goes black, and the screen behind the stage rapidly lights up, saying, “Open. The. Pit.” over and over.
Yungblud runs out onstage, just a ball full of unadulterated energy, and begins his set with superdeadfriends. The audience sings every word louder than the artist and returns just as much energy and enthusiasm.
The second song of the set, the lead single from his 2022 album, The Funeral, was sung just as passionately as the first, with Yungblud now holding a bouquet of red roses that were tossed onto the stage. Song three rolls around, and Yungblud now wields a black acoustic guitar, beginning to strum the fifth single, Tissues, from his self-titled album.
Now it was time for the song that really shot Yungblud into stardom, parents. The song blends hip-hop with mainstream pop and rock sounds fueled by teenage angst. Fans wave pride flags through the song, feeling empowered by the song’s lyrics.
Yungblud, dripping with sweat, manages to maintain his high energy throughout the entire set. “Is it okay that I have another beer?” he asks the figure’s side stage, then turns back to the crowd, “I have a day off tomorrow, so I’m gonna get really drunk,” he says with his British accent.
After a few more killer tunes, a fan is brought onstage to help pick the next song. “Psychotic Kids or California,” asks Yungblud. “CALIFORNIA!” the fan yells excitedly. The artist continues a few songs from his debut album before coming back to his most recent release for the final few songs.
It wouldn’t be a Yungblud show without an insane encore, so the band comes back to the stage to deafening cheers and closes out the night with three more songs, Lowlife, Loner, and Machine Gun (F**k the NRA).
Yungblud singlehandedly brings the most energetic live show in the modern music scene. He is keeping the rock ‘n’ roll attitude alive.
Sophie Powers
Opening the show at 7:30 PM was the edgy teenage pop queen, Sophie Powers. This Atlantic Records recording artist has achieved immense heights in her career at just 18 years old. Born in Toronto and now living in Los Angeles, Powers has created a unique brand for herself, combining her passion for music as well as fashion.
Her music can be described as alternative emo pop, and her image is heavily inspired by anime, as she designs all her stage clothes through the lens of her favourite genre of film.
This is the largest tour the budding artist has been part of, yet you would never know because of her impressive control of the stage and commanding attitude toward the crowd.
The Regrettes
The second opener slotted for the tour was The Regrettes, a band born out of feminine rage and teenage angst on the streets of Los Angeles back in 2015. The group has stuck together and continued to grow over the past eight years, from playing Coachella to touring with Twenty One Pilots and much more.
The band’s frontwoman, Lydia Night, has an infectious energy that totally got the crowd invested in the performance. The Regrettes blend riot grrrl with rockabilly, creating a completely original sound.
“I’ll still kick your ass, even in my skirt,” sings Night, perfectly summarising what the band represents. She encourages the crowd to open a pit and “shake some ass.”
