Not in recent memory has a tour been so aptly named—
The twenty-date Never Be the Same Tour featuring currently nitro-hot pop singer Camila Cabello pulled into the State Theatre in downtown Minneapolis for a long sold-out and highly anticipated first area solo headlining appearance by the former Fifth Harmony vocalist.
Beginning the evening was another internet sensation, Bazzi (aka Andrew Bazzi), a Dearborn MI pop/R&B singer-songwriter who broke through (in a very 21st century way) last fall with his song ‘Mine’, via a meme through the use of a Snapchat filter. After a handful of singles, his first album, Cosmic (iamcosmic records) is out this month, which most in the screaming crowd already seemed to know.
“I think we should turn this thing up a bit!” Bazzi said, on the electronic-tinged ‘Gone’ getting the crowd to raise their hands with him on cue, singing about the life of excess. Phone lights went up for newest single, ‘Honest’ as the lyric reflected a vulnerability between regret and betrayal, with the singer admitting he still feels all the raw emotions of the situation that spurred him to write the song, every night as he performs it.
Best was saved for last, as breakthrough hit ‘Mine’ finished the set, with the audience singing the first verse back to the singer and band, as heavy electronic bass throbbed and shook. “You were an absolute pleasure tonight” Bazzi said, smiling as many in the crowd finished the verses he began.
A set change cleared the stage and revealed a massive widescreen along the back, that would serve as video segues between songs and Camila Cabello, her band, and dancers emerged following an on-screen countdown and very cinematic video intro.
Beginning with ‘Never Be the Same’ was apropos, as the Florida singer is clearly looking forward to bigger and better after leaving girl group Fifth Harmony and releasing a very successful debut solo album earlier this year, Camila (Epic/ Syco Records).
Her former band attempted to carry on without Cabello as she collaborated with others and worked on her own material, but eventually imploded as well, with each remaining member headed to their own respective solo careers. As the group’s break-up is relatively fresh, Cabello is “Ms. Movin’ On” in terms of performing any Fifth Harmony songs live, preferring to concentrate on the new material.
We heard Machine Gun Kelly sing ‘Bad Things’ in February over Super Bowl Week and were treated to Cabello’s version of their successful duet early on in the set, followed by lights dimming and Cabello slowing things down for a tender Elvis Presley cover.
“This show feels the most intimate and connected” Cabello gushed, taking time out before ‘After All These Years’ to knowledge her fans’ attentiveness and allegiance to the new songs, that most already knew every word to.
During the ballad ’Something’s Gotta Give’ poignant images of recent social issues (gun control, racial profiling) flashed across the screen, and though it didn’t make the album, Cabello stills considers the unreleased ‘Scar Tissue’ as “part of my story”, the mid-tempo number getting hands swaying to and fro during its chorus.
For ‘Crown’, dancers covered themselves in dark sheets, each wearing a crown as they expressively moved about, and sure-to-be future hit single, ‘Into It’ closed the main set with aplomb.
The two-song encore began with the second unreleased song, ‘Sangria Wine’, a Latin banger that set the stage for the night’s biggest hit and final song, ‘Havana’, as the dancers donned zoot suits, wide brimmed hats, and classic dresses to evoke that signature Cuban lifestyle.
The production and performer are already seasoned and precise enough to be considered arena-ready and from the quick ticket sell out, the demand is there for bigger venues as well, with Cabello already having road tested parts of the show while opening for Bruno Mars last fall. And while there is some pre-taped guide/backing vocals (like almost any pop show), Cabello’s voice is authentic and formidable, with dance moves honed to perfection by years with Fifth Harmony.
Bottom line, Camila Cabello is the real deal – destined for bigger stages, more radio hits, and bigger venues… and she’s just twenty-one, still at the beginnings of what should be a very long career. For her, it rings the most true- things will never be the same.
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