Fans lined up outside the Orpheum anticipating performances from R&B singer and Chicago native Jeremih and Canadian rapper/singer Partynextdoor. After a short while, fans took their places surrounding the stage. Enjoying the opening acts and turning up to Chance the Rapper’s song, “No problem,” they waited anxiously to see the headliners for the night.
“How y’all doing tonight, Madison?” Jeremih’s enthusiasm coming onto the stage filled the room. He was greeted with an overwhelming response. “I’m sorry y’all, I just got here, our plane landed a little while ago. I didn’t even get to spend no time with y’all in Madison, but it’s OK cause we gon’ turn up!”
The beat dropped and Jeremih brought the audience into his world. He captured the crowd with two of his hit songs: “Birthday Sex” and “Oui.” Jeremiah interacted with his audience, even bringing two fans on the stage to sing to them. On either side of the stage, there were two pole dancers adding to the fantasy of his world. Jeremih ensured that his fans would have an experience. In between changing his clothes, the performance continued with two hip-hop dancers who kept the crowd energized and on their toes. Coming back on stage, he brought his entourage to turn up with him. The crowd’s reaction was priceless. Jeremih’s performance left the crowd with high expectations for the next and final headliner of the night.
Partynextdoor entered from stage left, immediately mesmerizing the audience with an array of lights onstage. Unlike Jeremih, instead of greeting his audience, Partynextdoor began to sing immediately. During his performance, he lacked the skill to include and engage his audience. The energy in the room began to fall. While performing, it seemed as if he was only engaged with himself, pacing the stage and gesturing as though he was the only person in the room. At one point in the performance, he came to a kneeling position with his face in the palms of his hands. While singing, he completely ignored the crowd to deal with what seemed like his own personal problems.
The Madison college students and the Milwaukee-filled audience seemed to have enjoyed the lights more than Partynextdoor’s performance, which created an atmosphere Partynextdoor could not keep up with. Aside from Partynextdoor’s performance, the audience loved and enjoyed their Monday night, chanting and dancing to some of their favorite hit songs while watching what an epic assortment of lights can do for a performance.
