Concert review: Snow Hard Feelings Tour

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Reneé Rapp, an American actress and singer, is generating substantial buzz after being nominated for “Best New Artist” at the MTV Video Music Awards.  The artist currently boasts four million monthly listeners on Spotify, and has almost a million followers on Instagram. The accolades continue to accumulate.

I’m not only convinced that the hype is well-deserved, but also confident Rapp will endure far beyond the initial excitement of being the “next big thing” after attending her “Snow Hard Feelings” concert tour in Vancouver on Oct. 5.  She’s on a trajectory to become a musician I’ll follow and admire for years to come.

The first opening act, Towa Bird, took to the stage, leading a band that exuded enough energy to fill the entire room with a genuine “rock ‘n’ roll” vibe. While I didn’t know much about her before attending the show, I can confidently affirm that Bird is a musician on an upward trajectory with vocals that are incredibly clear and robust. It’s not a common sight to witness a lead singer breaking into their own guitar solo, but she did just that and left the audience in awe. It won’t be long before she headlines her own tour.

Next up was Alexander23, who also contributed to Rapp’s album Snow Angel along with other notable hits like “good 4 u” and “deja vu” by Olivia Rodrigo. While his production credentials are undeniably impressive, it’s his personal music that is truly captivating. The opening act set was impeccably tight, with Alexander23 and his two bandmates performing in flawless harmony. Their banter was clever and entertaining, with unparalleled musical chemistry. Along with a cover of One Direction’s “Steal My Girl” and a brief interlude of stand-up comedy, his stage presence and vocals were those of a seasoned performer — commanding and precise. 

Rapp held the audience utterly captivated from the moment she graced the stage until her final exit. The stage’s design was exquisite, artfully reflecting the seasons of spring, summer, fall, and winter throughout the performance. Accompanied by visuals portraying facets of her life in the backdrop, the show felt remarkably intimate, even within the grandeur of a room filled with 3,000 people.

Rapp kicked off the show with the fan-favorite track “Talk Too Much.” Sporting the broadest smile and a Jimi Hendrix tee as she glided around the stage, you would never guess that this was her very first solo tour of this magnitude. She sang with a crowd that eagerly matched her word-for-word before seamlessly transitioning into “Poison Poison.”

Following that, she took a brief pause to engage with the audience exuding authenticity and genuine humor in her interactions. Not only does she welcome the crowd into her incredibly raw and vulnerable music, but also extends an invitation into her own personality and life. Immaculate vibes, dare I say. 

The energy of the show continued to soar, and it was evident that everyone, both on stage and off, was thoroughly enjoying themselves. Rapp delighted the audience by inviting Alexander23 and Bird back on stage to join her for a rendition of “Tummy Hurts,” which was a major highlight of the evening. 

The winter-themed segment closed the show with a series of enchanting tracks, including “Gemini Moon,” “The Wedding Song,” “I Wish,” “In The Kitchen,” and finally, a quick wardrobe change and an absolutely breathtaking rendition of “Snow Angel.” With that final song, Rapp left it all on the stage. Her voice is deserving of every ounce of acclaim it receives.

I highly recommend attending the tour. It’s remarkably impressive — filled with unsurprising fun and humor, and truly a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s insane to think about how one day you’re in your room, making TikTok edits to her music and the next, she’s less than three feet away from you.