Review and Photo by Julia Bissessar
We all know Omar Apollo is a star, but at his Toronto show, he truly shone bright.
Fans filed into Budweiser Stage, Toronto’s iconic outdoor music venue, for Omar Apollo’s “God Said No” tour on Wednesday night. Concertgoers were first treated to an opening set by Malcolm Todd, a 20-year-old artist from LA. He was joined by his band and performed tracks from his recently released album, Sweet Boy. Standout tunes included “Roommates,” “Sweet Boy,” and “Art House,” which really got the crowd going.
As the sun set over Toronto, the energy in the crowd only intensified. Hours before the show, both Daniel Caesar and Mustafa posted on Instagram that they’d be in attendance, setting the audience abuzz with anticipation. Just before 9 p.m., the lights dimmed, and with a flash, the stage curtain dropped to reveal Omar Apollo draped in a luxurious fur coat, crooning the opening notes of “Be Careful With Me” (a nod to the God Said No album cover). Apollo soon shrugged off his coat to reveal a dazzling white outfit and silver cross chain, as his dancers joined him. The group moved fluidly, creating narratives through movement, while the crowd roared. Fans sang particularly loudly during “Spite,” a single off God Said No, which has amassed over 13 million streams on Spotify.
After performing several more songs from the new album, Apollo took a moment to introduce the crowd to a dear friend: Mustafa. The pair sat at the edge of the stage and performed an acoustic version of “Plane Trees,” the sole collaboration on God Said No. The poetic flow and heartbreaking beauty of the song left the audience in silence, mesmerized. Following an embrace between Omar and Mustafa, the crowd erupted in applause and appreciation. Apollo then continued performing the album in order, but fans knew there were still surprises in store.
As the familiar electric guitar riff of “Invincible” began, fans instinctively reached for their phones, recognizing the song’s opening notes. Right on cue, Daniel Caesar stepped onto the stage, and the crowd exploded with excitement for their hometown hero, joining in the chorus with him. The dancers elevated the performance, while the duet of Apollo and Caesar’s voices melted together in perfect harmony. Mustafa later rejoined the stage, standing with his fellow artists to take photos with the audience. Before departing, he raised his keffiyeh high, declaring “Free Palestine! Free all oppressed peoples!”—a statement that received overwhelming cheers from the crowd.
With “Invincible” came a smooth transition into songs from Omar Apollo’s 2022 album, Ivory. Alongside guitarist Oscar Santander and bassist Trey Graves, the trio performed “En El Olvido” and “Dos Uno Nueve,” two fan-favourites sung in Spanish from earlier releases. The remainder of the show highlighted more of Apollo’s background dancers, whose incredible choreography was set to tracks from Ivory and Apolonio. The crowd was especially eager for “Evergreen,” which has recently gained traction on social media.
As a casual listener of Omar Apollo, I was completely blown away by his vocal prowess. Few artists can deliver such a powerful performance with that level of stamina and consistency. Early in the show, Apollo jokingly warned the audience not to post any videos if his singing faltered due to “drinking a lot” at the Venice Film Festival, likely celebrating his acting debut in Queer, directed by Luca Guadagnino. Still, I doubt anyone could have found fault in his performance on that late summer night in the 6ix.
There’s already buzz about more surprise guests joining Omar Apollo as his tour continues across the United States. Malcolm Todd will remain the opening act, but Kevin Abstract and Ravyn Lenae are set to join him on select dates. Tickets are still available, but grab them here while you can!
Leave a Reply