Heartsleeve Magazine

Mary J. Blige closed the show with a powerful set that spanned her decades-long career, reminding everyone why she’s the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. From raw, emotional ballads to fierce anthems of strength and resilience, she commanded the stage with grace and fire. Together, their performances celebrated legacy, love, and the kind of energy that only true icons can deliver.

Kierra Sheard-Kelly opened the evening with electrifying energy, showing why she’s a staple in today’s gospel scene. Her powerful vocals and commanding stage presence set the tone, especially during her rendition of "Something Has to Break," which resonated deeply with the crowd. She had the audience in worship from the start, paving the way for the legends that followed.

The night unfolded as a beautiful journey through the rich histories of each artist, with every act performing songs that have become the soundtrack to so many lives.

Throughout the night, these gospel titans didn’t just perform their own catalogues—they came together for several breathtaking collaborations. Kirk Franklin, the evening’s lively maestro, orchestrated these joint moments with his usual humor, charm, and infectious energy. Franklin’s own set was electric, filled with the high-energy, genre-blending sounds that have made him a revolutionary in gospel music. Hits like “Stomp” and “Revolution” had the crowd dancing and celebrating as if it was Sunday morning service.

One of the night’s standout moments was a powerful group rendition of “Something About the Name Jesus.” Each artist took turns adding their unique voice to the song, creating a heavenly wall of sound that filled every corner of the Lenovo Center. This performance perfectly captured the essence of the night: a collective tribute to the enduring power of gospel music and the unwavering faith that ties it all together.

Ultimately, The Reunion Tour in Raleigh was a masterclass in gospel music. The mutual respect and camaraderie between the artists was palpable, creating an atmosphere of celebration, reflection, and worship that the audience won’t soon forget. From the classic hits to the heartfelt collaborations, every moment was a testament to the genre’s timelessness and its power to uplift and inspire. Kirk Franklin and his gospel cohorts didn’t just give a concert—they led an unforgettable evening of praise that stirred both the heart and the soul.

Be sure to check out my exclusive photos from the night to see some of the most powerful moments from this incredible show.

Opening the night, Robin Thicke delivered a set that was as sultry as it was soulful. Thicke's charismatic stage presence kept the audience entranced, his smooth falsetto weaving through hits like “Lost Without U” and “Blurred Lines.” But it wasn’t just the radio staples that resonated; his deeper cuts showcased his range as both a singer and songwriter.

Between songs, Thicke shared heartfelt moments with the audience, touching on the power of love and connection, adding a personal touch to the night.

As soon as Boyz II Men took the stage, the energy in the room shifted to pure nostalgia. The legendary trio, known for their flawless harmonies and emotional ballads, brought the house down with classics like “End of the Road” and “I’ll Make Love to You.” Their vocal chemistry was nothing short of magical, as if no time had passed since their chart-topping days in the ‘90s.

What truly stood out during their performance was their effortless interaction with the audience. Nathan Morris, Wanya Morris, and Shawn Stockman knew exactly how to engage, with smooth transitions between tender ballads and upbeat tracks like “Motownphilly.” Their performance of “Water Runs Dry” was one of the evening's highlights, delivering a heart-wrenching yet beautifully executed piece that left many fans misty-eyed.

Throughout the set, the group demonstrated their deep connection to their craft, showcasing their vocal precision and emotional depth. Their legacy as one of the greatest R&B groups of all time was reaffirmed, leaving fans both old and new in awe.

From sultry soul to impeccable harmonies, the night was a journey through the very best of R&B, and it was clear by the end that no one in attendance left disappointed.

Joshua Bassett, who first gained widespread attention as Ricky in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, has since emerged as a versatile singer-songwriter with a growing catalog of hits. The Raleigh show offered a well-curated setlist that highlighted his journey as an artist. From the introspective "Doppelgänger" to the anthemic "Feel Something," Bassett delivered each song with a sincerity that resonated with the crowd.

But it wasn’t just the music that made the night special. Bassett’s showmanship was on full display as he brought a sense of playfulness and intimacy to the performance. At one point, he jumped on a trampoline, adding a burst of energy that had the crowd cheering. He didn’t stop there; Bassett walked the floor, shaking hands and connecting with fans in a way that made the large venue feel intimate. The highlight for many was when he invited several lucky fans on stage, turning the concert into an interactive experience that those in attendance will never forget.

Overall, Joshua Bassett's Raleigh performance was a testament to his growing talent and genuine connection with his fans. With a strong setlist, engaging stage presence, and moments of spontaneity, "The Golden Years Tour" is shaping up to be a pivotal chapter in his career. Fans left the venue with smiles on their faces and songs in their hearts, a clear sign that Bassett's star is only rising.

Opening the show was rapper, singer, and songwriter Kevin Abstract. His set was energetic and lively, including jumping down onto the barricade to give fans a personal experience. The crowd welcomed him with open arms, singing along and getting hype when he hit the more popular tracks.

When Glass Animals took the stage, no lyric was left unsung. Getting to experience fans' enthusiasm for these songs was a privilege; many of them were dressed in space themed outfits, the aesthetic of the album, and I saw more than one inflatable cow in the first few rows of the audience. The band members themselves were electric, bringing a new life and intensity to songs that I know and love, and changing my mind on the few I'd been unsure about when listening to the album. "Wonderful Nothing" was a particular highlight for me, as it's my favorite from the new record. The elongated instrumental sections – apparently crafted so that lead singer Dave could have a bit of a dance break – made me wish there was a live version of the album I could indulge in to relive the moment after it had passed. The energy that Glass Animals brought to the entire venue was something I've seen few bands successfully create, and with their impressive spaceship set, colorful, trippy visuals, and interaction with the crowd, I can definitely see why fans keep coming back for more.

You can listen to I Love You So F***ing Much wherever you stream music, and be sure to check out our gallery from the show below! Glass Animals is also touring through the rest of the year, so check out the dates here to find out where you can see them live!

Benét opened up the night, winning over the room easily with his smooth tunes and cheerful banter with the crowd. 

Faye started her performance with But Not Kiss, a song off her newest record Underdressed at the Symphony. The initial crooning lines were immediately grounded with Charles LaMont’s tight drum beat, Noor Khan’s steady bass, and Annie Leeth’s bright piano riff, and was later topped off with sprinkles of pedal steel courtesy of Matt “Pistol” Stossel. The set continued on with a sweet mix of songs off the new album (“Lego Ring” complete with Faye’s Singsongorama game animations) and past album classics including “Right Side of My Neck” and “In a Good Way” - all of which the crowd happily swayed and sang along to. The harmony across all the members of the band made the set seem effortless, allowing each audience member to melt into every song as if we ourselves were blue tees in a laundry cycle set on gentle, swirling around in waters of musical bliss.

Faye Webster’s tour has just begun, with US and Canada shows spanning until October of this year. You can find her list of tour dates here. Be sure to check out our full gallery of photos from this concert below!

Tye's stage presence is electrifying. From the moment he stepped on stage, the audience was captivated by his infectious energy and profound spiritual message. The setlist was a well-balanced mix of his biggest hits, classic gospel favorites, and new material from recent projects. Tribbett made sure to include songs like “Work It Out,” “Victory,” “He Turned It,” and “What Can I Do,” and he performed them with with intensity and passion that resonate deeply with the audience. It amazed me how Tribbett was able to seamlessly transition between energetic praise anthems and intimate worship moments; it showcased how versatile and deep his connection is to his music. The live performance brought a new level of intensity and emotion, making the live show an even more impactful experience than his studio albums. If you are a fan of Tye Tribbett – or love gospel music – the Only One Night Tho tour is an experience you do not want to miss. 

D: This is the first night of your tour with Jon McLaughlin! How are you feeling? Any cities that you’re particularly excited for? L: It feels awesome! I’m really excited about seeing this part of the country. I haven’t seen much of the West Coast, other than just the major cities. But you get to see lots of nature that way, which is always really cool. I’m really excited to go back to San Diego. I was there in 2019 and it’s a beautiful city. I’m pretty much excited for all the cities. I haven’t been to Arizona before so seeing the desert part of the country will be exciting. I’m ready to see Portland for the first time. It seems like such an original place. I recorded in Seattle but never performed a show there so I'm really excited to be playing a show there as well. D: I think it’s so cool that you recorded with the producer for Modest Mouse and The Shins! Those are two of my favorite bands. I don’t know if they were inspirations for you but you can feel that vibe in your music. L: I feel like it's the producer’s process. I mean, he's worked with artists of every single genre. I feel like the thing that ties them all together is that he just knows how to get an artist to express their innermost truth in the recording process. And to be the best version of themselves as an artist. And it's through letting you make the decisions and be the driver creatively. D: Your new single is getting a lot of attention! It has 50K views on YouTube with just a lyric video. Who were you hoping to reach when you recorded that? L: I wouldn't say any particular audience.I just wanted, It was for me I think more than anything. I wanted to do the song the way that I heard it and whoever was into it would like it. I feel like that’s the best way I can put it. I wanted something that was pop-y and relatable, but that was a reflection of what I like to hear in my music, I guess.

D: During Covid, a lot of people were making banana bread and playing Animal Crossing, but you made a whole album. How did Row Me Away come to life and how big of an impact did the lockdown have on making that album? L: We actually recorded that in 2019 right before the Pandemic. But I mean, I guess the impact was that it was a flop because of the lockdown. D: Oh man, I'm sorry. L: That's okay. There was really nothing we could do. We waited like, I want to say seven or eight months before we put out our first single. And then we tried to do a radio campaign in England and We didn't know how to really make that one work at the end of the day. And I think a lot of it was the way we were approaching Spotify at the time. We just didn't understand how to make it work. But yeah, the pandemic definitely made that album not happen so well. But It was nice that the themes on the album kind of carried over into the pandemic. When I was writing a lot of those songs, I was thinking about climate change and the other challenges that we face as a species. And all those lyrics just also applied to being in the pandemic as well. I feel that even then that message still carries on beyond the pandemic.

D: Who or what were your inspirations when writing? L: I'd say that before this record, I was always very influenced by Brian Wilson and Burt Bacharach and the more complex pop writers of the sixties and seventies. I always wanted that kind of wrecking crew sound on everything. So we would track with a lot of musicians and I kind of was pretty consistent about that. And then after the Pandemic when I worked with Phil, I wanted to make a record that reflected some of my earlier influences and the stuff that I listened to growing up. A lot of The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Shoegaze, Brit pop, and all that great stuff. I'd say that was the most significant change between this most recent and Row Me Away. D: Those who follow you on Instagram know you're kind of a foodie and a cook. So what's your go-to comfort food and what's one dish you think everyone should learn how to cook? L: My go-to comfort food is probably Veal Parmesan. It’s so good. That is New York City cuisine at its finest. You can definitely do it wrong. But when it's good, it's just simple joy, Cheese, sauce, and crispy veal cutlet. It's awesome and my favorite thing to cook. I think everyone should learn how to make a simple tomato sauce. Definitely never add garlic. That’s unforgivable. D: All right, last question. What's next after the tour? L: We're just gonna keep pushing the radio stuff. After this leg, we're going out again in June and then in September with John again. So we'll be doing Asheville to Columbia and then after that we're gonna do like a northeast tour, which I'm excited for. The last show is gonna be a hometown show, which is the perfect way to end the tour.

Check out Leo's newest single, “Till You’re Somebody Else,” here, and be sure to follow him for the latest tour updates!

1. "Cinderella" – Remi Wolf (Cassidy's Pick)

Hearing this track for the first time, while on public transit at 9am was terrible; all I wanted to do was get up and dance. Remi just makes you feel good. She uses this sort of R&B beat with a disco horn section that makes you want to get up and move. There’s also what I like to describe as “fun little treasures,” hidden in the production. For example, a little whistle pops up throughout the chorus along with a desk bell signifying that we are, in fact, meeting Remi “and the boys in the hotel lobby.”

Remi’s 3rd LP Big Ideas releases on July 12th.

2. "Wretched" – Bartees Strange (Jude's Pick)

"I was trying to be something wretched, something I saw on TV," Bartees Strange shares with listeners in the bridge of "Wretched," the third song on his 2022 LP Farm to Table. The entire album is a personal reflection on life and behavior, but this track sticks out to me because of its brutal honesty and its narrative; it thanks one of the singer's loved ones for being there for him even when he was in a tumultuous, lost period of his life. It's also sonically engaging, the pre-chorus building a bridge between the soft verses and the fun, almost chaotic chorus that culminates in an assertion of hope regardless of one's past. I'm obsessed with the entire album, but this one is at the top of my On Repeat this week. Last month, Bartees Strange released a deluxe edition of his latest album, Say Goodbye To Pretty Boy, and I'm excited to delve into it. If it's anything like Farm To Table, I'm sure it'll be gripping, reflective and masterful.

3. "Cocoon" – Bjork (Elise's Pick)

This song is one of my favourites of all time, but one that I’ve recently revisited. The production is quintessential Björk experimentalism; subtle yet undeniable mastery of her craft. Lyrically, the song is completely discrepant to the media’s image of her as naive and childlike. It’s a bold reclamation of desire in the form of a gentle love letter, almost invasive to listen to because of its intimacy. The microbeats which softly patter through the whole album, Vespertine, characterise this song as a paean to a vulnerable love Björk is sharing with her lover, and now with us as listeners. It’s a product of that Tori Amos, PJ Harvey era of 90s alternative, unapologetic in its depictions of a sexuality that had not been explored by many women due to taboo. The title feels perfect, too, the beats and layers of production evoking a feeling of being blanketed in the music as though in a cocoon. A track that never gets old, despite the 13 years that have passed since its release.

4. "B2b" – Charli XCX (Cassidy's Pick)

Wake up, angels! Charli is back! In February, Charli XCX emerged with a new single Von Dutch that spread across TikTok like a plague. Then a remix of the track featuring Addison Rae and production from A.G. Cook, it was clear that this new album cycle would be a hit.

Before the album, BRAT, drops on June 7th, Charli graciously released two more singles to obsess over, “Club classics” and “B2b.” As much as I love “Club classics,” “B2b” is it for me. The addictive synth beat, mixed with the infectious hook, creates a track you don’t want to put down and I haven’t. Charli has a special way of bringing meaningful lyricism to a genre that is usually viewed as completely void of it, and “B2b” is a great example. Suffice it to say, I am beyond excited to hear the album of the summer on June 7th.

5. "Good Luck, Babe!" – Chappell Roan (Elise's Pick)

I don’t typically listen to pop, but this upbeat exploration of queer love and heartache is one of my favourite recent releases. The vocals are grandiose, heavenly in their high pitch and almost reminiscent of Kate Bush in their drama. Roan is an artist completely dedicated to the ‘image’ and the art that comes with her music; her recent appearance on Tiny Desk included lipstick on teeth, bouffant scarlet wigs and tiaras. She is one of my favourite rising artists at the moment, opening many of Olivia Rodrigo’s US shows and portraying the multifaceted beauty and ache of sapphic desire through the journey of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess. This is her first release since this album, and she doesn’t disappoint. ‘You’d have to stop the world just to stop the feeling,’ she sings, as the ending of the song slows, slowing and distorting her voice and eventually stopping. She doesn’t shy away from explicit queer desire, and it’s not all innocence: it’s “a sexually explicit kinda love affair.” I’m enamoured with Roan’s eccentricity and originality, and this track only serves to reinforce it - the fun beats, flamboyant strings, and her hypnotic vocals render this a must-listen track.

Check out the Friday Five playlist on Spotify below, and be sure to follow us so you don't miss future updates!

Raleigh was one of the earlier stops on Fall Out Boy’s current tour, So Much For (2our) Dust, in support of their most recent album, 2023’s So Much For Stardust. The band came with three phenomenal opening acts and the promise of a night to remember. The first opener was Games We Play, a new three-piece addition to bassist Pete Wentz’s record label. Games We Play’s infectious energy and endearing humility charmed the crowd without effort. Even though the arena was barely full, the three musicians played their hearts out, giving all their energy to the audience. Following Games We Play, Hot Mulligan took the stage. Their heavy, deep sound and emotional energy filled the room as the lead singer made the stage his own. No member of the audience was immune to the deep, reflective vibe. The third opener was crowd-favorite Jimmy Eat World. An undeniably classic band, they prepared the audience for the type of nostalgia that Fall Out Boy brings to the stage, oozing an enthusiasm that brought the whole crowd to their feet. 

My first thought once the curtain dropped and I heard those first heart-stopping notes of “Love From The Other Side,” was that Fall Out Boy’s production is breathtaking. With giant moons framing the stage, and lighting in all different colors, and the flamethrower bass (yes, you heard that right), there is no shortage of spectacles to be entertained by. And while the band generally keeps the show consistent in style and structure, there are a few surprises fans can expect to… unexpect. On the first SMFS tour, fans were tortured and delighted by Fall Out Boy’s newest addition: the portion of the set known as the “magic 8 ball.” The 8 ball, which they brought back for (2our) Dust, is a surprise song. In this slot, the band chooses a deep cut to revisit that usually shocks the audience – some of these songs are finally getting their live debut despite having been released almost twenty years ago. There are also other places in the set for them to shake it up, like lead singer Patrick Stump’s nightly piano medleys and the infamous fifth song, where “A Little Less Sixteen Candles, A Little More Touch Me” is on the official setlist but is sometimes delayed in favor of a surprise track. Either way, it’s apparent that the band knows we adore the new album, but also want the chance to hear our beloved favorites. Raleigh was graced with “Dead On Arrival,” “The Pros and Cons of Breathing” – its first live performance since 2007! – and “What A Time To Be Alive” during the piano medley (that one, I was extremely excited about). 

Overall, there was something communal about the entire experience; from the dad one row above me that had obviously been dragged along (and was endlessly amused by my hype and lyrical knowledge), to the really tall guy somewhere in the floor seats who seemed to pump his fists everytime I did, everyone in the room shared something special that night. Concert culture has changed profoundly in recent years, but this show took me back to when audiences looked out for each other and strangers became friends, just by loving the same music. If I ever see Fall Out Boy again – and let’s be real, I’m hooked now – I won’t hesitate to jump around and sing until my lungs give out. 

Fall Out Boy will be touring through early April, before taking a break and then jetting off for festival season. You can find the list of So Much For (2our) Dust dates HERE. And don't forget to check out our highlights gallery from the show below!