Gus Dapperton | Portland, OR
After the release of his third studio album Henge, Gus Dapperton and his band are on the road again. The tour made a stop at Portland’s Wonder Ballroom on September 28th. Fans were piling into the venue as soon as the doors opened - buying merch, getting drinks, and trying to get as close to the stage as possible while chatting about what the show would have in store.
The night began with the opening act, Sarah Kinsley. The alternative pop singer-songwriter had the crowd entranced with her ethereal sound. She quickly connected with the audience, having them scream about their love for her within a few songs. Kinsley won hearts over with her strong vocals and guitar skills.
Not too long after Kinsley’s set, the lights dimmed once again and Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” began playing. One by one, Dapperton’s band came out dancing around, laughing, and bowing to the audience. Once Gus Dapperton hit the stage, the screams from fans in the audience grew even louder. The set started with the first song off his newest album, “Sunset”. It was the perfect build up for a night of fun ahead.
Watching the band on stage, you could tell they were having such a good time and the energy was infectious. Fans laughed, danced, and joked back with Gus and his band. The set featured songs off his new album, as well as some older songs. It felt like a tour through Dapperton’s discography. They even did a raffle on stage that fans who bought merch at the beginning of the show got to participate in. The winning fan got to choose the album they would play a song off of that they do not normally play. It was an amazing way to make the crowd even more involved in the show.
Amongst the hits, he also did a small cover of a Drake song. That was not the only cover featured that night. His sister (who plays keys in his band, also known as singer Amadelle) sang her original song “Not My Baby”, followed by a cover of 3OH!3’s “DONTTRUSTME”. The crowd went absolutely crazy for her.
After the high energy set came to an end, Gus Dapperton and his band came back out for not just one, but two encore songs. The last song of the night was a cover of “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles, which Gus joked about having the day off tomorrow so his voice would allow him to do this cover. He made the crowd promise to dance along, and they sure did. Every audience member grabbed a friend and danced until the night finished.
Gus Dapperton’s Henge tour is a tour you do not want to miss if you are looking for a night of fun, dancing, and amazing music that sounds even better than the recordings. He knows how to make his fans feel like they are a part of the performance and plays a show you will not forget about anytime soon.
