Blood Orange @ The Anthem

Author: Amelia Kramer

I had the absolute honor of attending and writing a show review for one of my favorite artists, Blood Orange, on March 3rd, 2026, at The Anthem. This show was the first of the second part of the 2026 “Essex Honey Tour.” Fans, myself included, were indeed fortunate to witness the spectacular talent of Devonté Hynes on stage again, headlining his own tour for the first time since 2020. With the release of his new album Essex Honey in August 2025, devotees, including myself, transitioned to a new era of Blood Orange: an era that is more personal, melancholic, and introspective, following the death of Devonté’s mother two years before. The album was written and recorded in his home county of Essex, England, where the themes and sentiments of growing up had their impact. Earlier this past year, in September, 2025, I attended Turnstile’s “The Never Enough Tour” in Richmond, VA. This included performances by special guests SPEED, Jane Remover, and Blood Orange. This was my first time seeing Blood Orange live, and it was glorious. Since Dev was a special guest, his setlist was kept short, playing songs mostly from the new Essex Honey album and a few notable, older songs like “Champagne Coast,” off his 2011 debut album Coastal Grooves, and “Jesus Freak Lighter” off his 2022 EP Four Songs. Yet, as privileged as I was to be there, it did not compare to the sold-out, longer show I attended this past Tuesday at The Anthem, which revisited songs from albums not included in his show for 12 years. 

Accompanied by the multifaceted, magnetic genius that is Devonté were two background singers who lit up the stage with their energy and mesmerizing voices that belonged to Eva Tolkin & Ian Isaiah. Joining them was Tariq Saleem Al-Sabir, a talent who both opened the show and switched off from bass to keys, and drummer Dillon Treacy, who kept the beat and injected rhythm in all of our feet. From the very start of the show, the energy was electric. Starting us off was “I Wanna C U” off of the 2019 album Angel’s Pulse. Right away, every person in the room was under the spell of Dev’s talent. Following this, Dev and his electric cello then gave us a contemporary, individualized rendition of “How Soon is Now?” by The Smiths.  And we couldn’t refuse songs like “Chosen,” “UNCLE ACE,” and “You’re not Good Enough,” which are featured on Dev’s 2013 album Cupid Deluxe. As I thought might happen, it was at this point that I began losing my voice! These songs had not been performed since 2016, and I approached a ‘10’ on the joy scale, realizing that all of us in that room were witnessing the resurrection of these songs and this album - my favorite one! “Bad Girls,” released as a single in 2012, was played for the first time since 2017 in this performance. I love this song, just like many others, so when the memorable keyboard phrase was played, it was like an old refrain. A long-time favorite was brought back to life after a close to a decade-long hiatus, just like many of the other songs he had played that night. Nearing the end of the set, of course, “Charcoal Baby” and acclaimed "Champagne Coast” made their expected appearances, creating a truly communal experience for us all - a timely reminder of the love we all share for the sound of Blood Orange. To close out the show, they ended with “The Field” and “I Can Go,” both songs off of Essex Honey.

Not only was the live music a marvel, but so was the lighting and backdrop live feed displayed on the screen behind the band. The lighting was filled with cool tones, paralleling the sultry, ethereal tones of Dev’s music and mimicking the colors of his album’s covers. The overall spectacle was enhanced by our ability to watch the backdrop showing multiple different angles of the onstage team as they played with the audience in the back, watching intently. This screen helped audience members in the back to be able to see up close what was happening on stage, even if they were not near the stage. The filters and delays put on the live feed while the music played added yet another layer to the incredible sounds emanating from the stage. The band had all of us right in the palm of their hands and kept us there till the very end.

There was no encore, but to me, Blood Orange executed the perfect show with a perfect ending. Connecting with the crowd, Dev delivered a short and intimate monologue to the audience, making each one of us feel seen. He started out telling us how he went to the nearby children’s hospital and felt inspired and epiphanized after meeting some of these people and getting a glimpse into their lives. He delivered a message to the crowd, telling us to be grateful for the life we have and to enjoy each moment. It felt like Devonté was speaking to each one of us individually in the crowd, acknowledging our value, encouraging us to keep moving forward. It was the perfect ending to this wonderful, powerful, and unforgettable show. Dev showcased his dynamic, musical skills in exuberant ways, switching between multiple instruments, including an electric cello, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and keys. The vocal skills of Eva and Ian added truly exceptional harmonics to the already sublime vocals of Devonté. When all these parts came together, the songs we have loved for more than a decade were delivered to us, and everything was in perfect harmony (quite literally). This show exceeded all of my expectations, and I felt like (and still feel like) the luckiest person ever. Thank you, Devonté Hynes; thank you, Blood Orange, for an experience I could never forget.

Author: Amelia Kramer | Photographer: Jonathan Herrera | Venue: The Anthem | 03/03/2026 | Instagram: oh._.ohkay