Red Bull Music Festival Chicago: Zero Fatigue at Thalia Hall 11/23

FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED INTO THALIA HALL TO SEE ZERO FATIGUE, I COULD FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE AN ENERGETIC NIGHT. AS I WALKED UP THE STAIRS HEADED TO THE SHOW THE RIVETING ENERGY WAS PALPABLE. THE CHATTER, LAUGHTER, AND MOVEMENT FILLED THE SPACE AND MADE IT FEEL WARM. THE CROWD WAS DIVERSE AND SHOWED OFF A VARIETY OF ECCENTRIC OUTFITS, AND ECLECTIC LOOKS. IN OBSERVING THE ATTENDEES IT WAS CLEAR TO ME THAT ZERO FATIGUE ENCOURAGES FANS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND BE AUTHENTIC. AS THIS CREATIVE AUDIENCE FILLED THE ROOM ANXIOUSLY WAITING FOR SMINO TO TAKE THE STAGE, I COULD FEEL THE INTENSE ANTICIPATION. THERE WAS A STRONG BUILDUP OF ENERGY THAT FINALLY EXPLODED WHEN SMINO CONFIDENTLY BURSTED ONTO THE STAGE. 

SMINO OOZED DOPENESS IN HIS WHITE CIRCLE GLASSES, BACKWARDS CAP, BAGGY SHIRT, AND BEADS ON THE END OF HIS BRAIDS. HIS ENTRANCE GAVE WAY TO AN EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE, AND HIS AESTHETIC PAID HOMAGE TO 90S AND EARLY 2000S STYLE WHILE MAINTAINING INDIVIDUALITY. SMINO MANAGED TO EVOKE A SENSE OF NOSTALGIA FOR THE TIMES OF BUSTA RHYMES AND OUTKAST WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY BRINGING A NEW AND FRESH SOUND.  HIS RUNS WERE REMNANT OF T-PAIN’S, AND HIS SOULFUL VOICE DEMONSTRATED A SOUTHERN, GOSPEL INFLUENCE. WITH MELODIC VOCALS AND POETIC LYRICS, SMINO CAPTURED THE ENERGY OF THE ROOM. HE CAPTIVATED THE AUDIENCE'S ATTENTION AND MADE US WONDER WHAT WE WOULD HEAR NEXT. HE MADE EVERYONE PUT THEIR PHONES DOWN AND FEEL THE GROOVE OF MUSIC. BEFORE WE KNEW IT WE WERE SWAYING AND DANCING TOGETHER WITHOUT INHIBITIONS. SMINO MADE IT FEEL LIKE ONE BIG PARTY. DANCING ON STAGE WITH OTHER ZERO FATIGUE MEMBERS, SMINO DOMINATED THE SPACE WITH A SENSE OF EASE, MAKING THE AUDIENCE FEEL AS IF WE WERE ALL FRIENDS, AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY THAT ZERO FATIGUE EMBRACES. 

WITH HIS LARGER THAN LIFE DANCE MOVES, SMINO WAS NOT AFRAID TO TAKE UP SPACE, AND FULLY UTILIZED THE STAGE. HE INTERACTED WITH THE CROWD, SHOUTING OUT CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS, AND BONDING WITH THE AUDIENCE OVER CHICAGO’S GENUINE LOVE FOR MUSIC. THE SHOW ENDED WITH A PERFORMANCE OF “KLINK.” THE TEXTURE OF THE SONG FILLED MY EARS AND HIT MY CHEST SATISFYING MY SECRET WISHES TO HEAR THE SONG ALL NIGHT.  ZERO FATIGUE MADE THALIA HALL FEEL ALIVE AND WAS AN AMAZING EXAMPLE OF THE ENERGETIC EFFECT THAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN TRUE MUSIC LOVERS COME TOGETHER.

THANKS FOR READING AND FOR A TASTE OF WHAT I’VE DESCRIBED CHECK OUT SMINO ON SPOTIFY HERE!