The multifaceted underground superstar Jean Dawson took over the stage at The Nile Theatre on Nov. 12. Fellow music trailblazer Quadeca tagged along on Dawson’s “Glimmer of God” Tour, promoting Dawson’s album of the same name, which came out on Oct. 18.
Prior to entry, fans in line could hear soundchecks from both artists, building anticipation for the upcoming concert. Security opened the doors at 7 p.m., and fans were then able to check out the merch booth, which included posters, tees and “Pixel Bath” CDs.
After fans anxiously waited for a brief period, the clock struck 8 p.m., and the show began. Quadeca launched into his set with a swirling somber ballad, “DUSTCUTTER,” which is the intro from his 2024 project “SCRAPYARD.” The crowd became mesmerized by the sheer musical talent Quadeca and his band showcased on songs like “tell me a joke,” “PRETTY PRIVILEGE” or “WAY TOO MANY FRIENDS.”
The Youtuber-turned-experimental artist capped off his performance by showcasing his unmatched flows on “Sisyphus” and announcing he is adding the finishing touches to a new record titled “Vanisher.”
After Quadeca and his bandmates left the stage, Jean Dawson’s crew began putting together his set design, which included a reflective angel wing mic stand that is reminiscent of Prince's iconic mic stand.
The band members flooded the stage all at once and began performing a soft instrumental that any Jean Dawson fan could recognize. Once the instrumental transitioned into the first verse, Dawson was welcomed into the spotlight with a flurry of cheers and began his dream-like performance. A cluster of white ambient lighting outlined Dawson as he trotted around in an oversized puffer jacket, singing his atmospheric SZA collaboration “NO SZNS.”
The stellar opening was followed by a pair of high energy tracks, “Black Sugar” and “THREE HEADS,” the former coming from “Glimmer of God” and the ladder coming from “CHAOS NOW*.” The crowd was psyched to hear his new material in a space with quality speakers and heavy bass lines that you could feel punch you in your chest.
“Houston” instantly became a standout within the set because of Dawson’s raw vocal talent and synth pop production that sounded angelic in a live setting. While performing the track, a vertical screen displayed animations of gloomy clouds and rainfall behind Dawson, adding even more emotional weight to the song.
Dawson would continue playing catalog standouts, including “Bruiseboy,” “Darlin’” and “Devilish.” Just before playing the penultimate track of the night, “Power Freaks,” Dawson shared his love for Arizona.
“[Arizona] feels like home,” “I’m thinking about moving out here,” and “sometimes I just be chilling at Snooze Cafe by myself like yo,” he said.
Jean Dawson capped off the performance with his playful Mac DeMarco collaboration “MENTHOL*.” Dawson’s brother stood on the stage barrier, encouraging the crowd to open the pit and go wild for the last track of the night. Jean reciprocated the energy by screaming his heart out and rolling around the stage in pure joy. He dropped the mic after a heartfelt “I love you Arizona” and made his way backstage.
The crowd rushed out of the venue and began waiting in the hopes of meeting Dawson. Roughly an hour later, Dawson made his way outside and began greeting the line of roughly 30 patient fans. He spent time taking pictures with fans, sharing personal stories of what drove him to music, signing merchandise and sharing a cigarette with a fan.
Jean Dawson can be found on tour with Quadeca until late December with a pitstop at Tyler, The Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw Festival on Nov. 17 at Dodger Stadium.