Powfu Takes Over Antone’s Nightclub: Concert Recap – Billboard

Go to one Powfu show is like going out with a childhood friend for the evening. For his first-ever tour following the viral TikTok hit of “Death Bed (Coffee for Your Head)”, the 23-year-old Canadian singer (real name Isaiah Faber) created a warm and welcoming environment for his group of devoted fans. — much like the sense of comfort his 2020 hit brought to millions of listeners during one of the most unpredictable times in history.

You would never have thought this was Faber’s first live gig, given his impressive vocal ability throughout the solid 24-song set at Antone’s Nightclub in Austin, Texas on Wednesday night ( June 22). He also exudes a natural charisma on stage, full of candid conversations with front-row attendees and a dry sense of humor, balanced with raw moments of vulnerability.

“I really appreciate you coming here. It means a lot to me,” he shared with the crowd before performing “I Could Never Be Loved,” which he revealed was the one of the first songs he ever wrote. “When I wrote it, I was in a weird situation in life. I was working part time, waking up doing the same thing every day. I was coming home, I was playing video games, I was doing some music. I didn’t have a girlfriend. I didn’t even know what a relationship looked like. I didn’t have any friends or hang out with anyone, and I just felt like I was doing nothing with my life. I felt quite lonely and sad, but I wanted to change that.

“So basically I started reading, I started trying to make new friends, I quit my job that I didn’t like, I found a new job. I started to change what my life was. I’m glad I did that, because a lot of good things came out of it. I ended up finding a wife, I made a bunch of friends, I’m now touring the States, it’s crazy,” he continued. “Most importantly, I feel happier and I don’t feel alone. I know there’s a situation you find yourself in that you probably can’t change, or you feel like you’re stuck and you might feel hopeless. If you keep your eyes open and keep searching and staying patient, there will be doors that will open. It’s going to be scary, but change is what you need to do, isn’t it? If you don’t change, change won’t happen. Be careful, be prepared, and take that leap of faith.

And like hanging out with a pal, in between those heart-to-heart conversations, it’s a lot of fun. While performing on stage in front of a series of anime-inspired on-screen visuals, shaking a Hunter X Hunter t-shirt, Faber chose fans from the crowd to participate in a nostalgia beyblade competition. The chosen ones, two elated teenagers named Danny and Austin, stood in the center of a fan-made circle in the crowd, crouching above an arena of toys and each holding one of the early 1980s spinning top toys. 2000s. Isaiah’s musical director and instrumentalist Eric quickly began playing the theme song from the beloved Japanese TV series as the crowd shouted, “Let it rip!” After a quick but intense Beyblade battle, Danny emerged victorious and Faber took the t-shirt off his back (literally) and threw it into the crowd for one lucky spectator to hold onto.

To wrap up the set, Faber performed fan-favorite track “Sleeping on the Floor” and, of course, “Death Bed”, his beabadoobee– assisted hit that peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 Songs chart, skyrocketing Abbotsford’s Powfu, Canada’s talented kid next to the certified rock star.

Despite this new star status, Faber is still his fans’ best friend. After the show, the entire supporters – some of whom drove more than six hours to see the set – lined up to meet the artist, who spoke at length with each individual attendee alongside show openers Ouse and Snøw , taking selfies and sincerely expressing his appreciation for everyone who came to see him. Faber’s dedication to kindness and humility allows his star power to extend beyond his art, making us want to spend time with him again and again for years to come.

See the full Powfu setlist below, which included the Travis Barker collaboration “Mario Kart” and the love song “A Castle by the Sea” dedicated to his wife Tashi, plus a cover of Plain white t-shirts The 2006 hit, “Hey There Delilah”.

I can not sleep
Mario Kart
Future Diary
the way you see me
I could never be loved
days that we had
Stay4Ever
Too many problems
Snowflake
Breakups Suck Ass
Hey There Delilah (plain white T cover)
Holy Spirit
A castle by the sea
The fire in your eyes
Lying on my porch
I’ll get back to you
Would look perfect
I’m used to it
Dead Eyes (with Ouse)
MindUrManners
Deathbed (coffee for the head)
sleep on the ground