Tai Verdes | HDTV Tour

BY PARIS LEWIS

The past two years have really pushed creatives to find new ways to showcase their artistry. Many took to Tik Tok, a popular video-sharing creative platform, that has helped bridge the social gap created by a time of uncertainty and loneliness. One of those artists goes by the name of Tai Verdes. An on the rise musician that struck gold with the release of his single “Stuck in the Middle” in 2020.

Verdes embarked on his HDTV Tour this week in support of his upcoming sophomore album. The first sold out show of the tour was at Delmar Hall in St. Louis on Wednesday night. The venue was on the smaller side of the locations in the Lou, but it was the perfect choice for this show. The dance floor was filled with the sounds of patiently awaiting fans. As soon as the lights dimmed, Verdes emerged in blue and white plaid pants and a gray t-shirt. The smile on his face said it all; This was going to be a great night. Verdes and his band were backed by a simple set with a color scheme ranging from the warmer tones to blues, purples, and teals. The dance floor rumbled with the cheers of the fans as he started the show.

Verdes’ sound is a combination of pop, hip hop, and r&b with an essence of indie. His warm bouncy tone makes his listeners want to hear more. The setlist had a good balance of some of his slower jams contrasted with fast upbeat song choices. Many of the latter contained groovy, hard hitting beats that immediately made the heads of the crowd move. Verdes’ distinctive voice was effortlessly clear and full of soul. 

Verdes and his band brought genuineness and positivity. He had a very animated personality which made the show that much more inviting. Whether he ran from one side of the stage to the other or told stories in between songs to transition into the next in the set, it was clear that Verdes knew how to interact with an audience. There was no shortage of laughter or smiles throughout the performance, making it easy to turn someone’s bad day into a great night.  

A simple, yet powerful, highlight of the night was when Verdes stopped in between songs to tell the predominantly Gen Z crowd, “if you have something you want to do, go do that shit.” You could see the impact that short statement had on some of the faces in the crowd. It surely reignited the passion in some of the fans there.

The night ended with his chart topping single, “A-O-K.” The song was filled with call and response and fun commentary to get the crowd to be at their loudest of the night. It was a great, compelling way to end the set.

Tai Verdes put on a great show and he is deservingly on his way to stardom. I am excited to see where this TV show of a life takes him next.