By: Emil Jraissati
Houston got nasty Thursday night as Tinashe brought her Match My Freak World Tour to Bayou Music Center. Following her viral summer song, Nasty, Tinashe released Quantum Baby, the second installment in a trilogy that includes BB/ANG3L. With support from the ethereal Raveena, the two ladies brought the chill and the freaky for a night of sweet, sexy fun.
The stage was set with poles covered in security cameras pointing in all directions, with a giant LED screen spanning across the entire stage. The show started with a deafening bass-heavy introduction that accompanied a black and white video montage as smoke filled the floor. Tinashe appeared amidst the smoke, opening the show with Getting No Sleep. The energy felt calm for the start of the show, but it was clear that she was just getting warmed up. She brought the energy with Link Up, a song for the bad bitches. IYKYK. Her dancers ate it up.
After Bouncin', one of the dancers appeared with a video camera that connected to a live feed on the big display screen. This recent technological advancement has become a staple in pop shows, and while it doesn’t always make sense, it fits the theme of voyeurism perfectly here. The whole night it felt like we were being watched, or were we watching something we weren’t supposed to be?
After a brief interlude, Tinashe returned to the stage to perform a crowd favorite, Save Room For Us. During this portion of the show, she leaned into the big hits, like All Hands On Deck and 2 On. She hopped onto the platform in the middle of the stage and had the dancers join her. It’s truly amazing how she sings these upbeat songs while doing full choreography. She sounds fantastic too. And hyped up the crowd by getting everyone to sing, “I love to get 2 on!”
Something that stood out was when she started singing Cross That Line from backstage with the camera projecting a live feed to the audience. Again, playing with that idea we’re not supposed to be watching (or are we?). It feels intimate, sensual, and provocative. She closed out the night with No Broke Boys, a hype anthem about being single and not giving a fuck about what mediocre guys have to say. And finally, Nasty. First a remix, then the original hit song; the entire crowd sang along while she danced the night away.
Tinashe brings it every time. She’s a professional, a dancer, a singer, and a performer. Her energy is contagious, and the Match My Freak World Tour is not to be missed. Have some fun, get a little nasty, and check to see if Tinashe is stopping by a city near you.
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