Last night Darren Criss kicked off his first solo tour at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. The rising star performed old favorites and some new songs as well. Come “Listen Up” with us!
It was a big night for Darren Criss and his blossoming music career. Fans of the musician will know that Criss has been preparing for a solo debut for quite some time, but only recently has each element begun to fall into place. The eager anticipation from friends and fans alike made for an enthusiastic crowd. As he’s known to do, Criss fed off the energy of those around him.
The motif and stage design for the “Listen Up” tour seems to be all about bright colors and lots of fun, which plays perfectly into Darren’s own personality. The musician himself took to the stage dressed in a neon orange tux jacket, ready to stand out against the crowd.
Long-time friend of Darren’s, Theo Katsman took his place as the opening act and prepared the audience for the main event. Then Criss chose to introduce his band and himself by opening the tour with “The Circle of Life.” The set list didn’t stray too far from what fans have come to expect from a Darren Criss performance. There were Disney covers, songs from his EP (I Still Think, Human, Sami), and guest appearances from his brother, Chuck Criss, and Theo. But the most exciting portion of the night came during the reveal of five new Darren Criss songs. Take a listen below.
Darren Criss – ‘Pheromones’
Darren Criss – ‘Any of Those Things’
Darren Criss – ‘Picture Perfect’
Darren Criss – ‘Words’
Darren Criss – ‘Once Upon A Time’
The new songs lean toward the pop genre a little more heavily than we have seen from Darren in the past, and he seems to be relying less on the rock elements we’re familiar with in his previous work. What we do see staying consistent is Criss’s signature lyrical influence, especially in his song “Words,” which is probably the most ‘traditional Darren’ of the five new songs.
“Picture Perfect” is incredibly catchy, and the performance from last night showcases just how enticing the artist can be when he’s on stage. If this is just a taste of what we’re going to be seeing from Criss in the future, we really can’t wait to see more!