When I arrived at the Aragon Ballroom, I didn’t really know what to expect. I was familiar with BORNS’ music, but I had never seen him live and I wasn’t too familiar with his personality. I watched the opening band come on Twin Shadows, and instantly felt at ease. Twin Shadows was the perfect opening band, they riled up the audience, built the energy, and gave BORNS the perfect stage to walk on and to perform. They finished their set with a slower song, which I noted to be an interesting choice as many bands tend to end their set with a “bang” but instead they chose to focus on the main singer’s vocal and musical abilities, and we were not disappointed. After a great performance, the main singer proclaimed one thing: he instructed us to “VOTE!” and then ran off stage. They foreshadowed an epic night was waiting for the audience, and you could see that on the faces of every fan in that crowd.

While I was in the pit, waiting for him to come on, fans were talking to me, and asking me to take their photos, as they were all dressed up in eclectic styles that matched his aesthetic. A bedazzled piano graced the stage, daring audiences to look at it in awe. Another really interesting aspect to the concert was that there was a woman in the press pit as well, who was signing the concert to some deaf fans. When I talked to security about it, the fans had requested through Live Nation, that there be a translator there to sign the words of the songs to them, so they could enjoy the music as well. I thought this was fascinating, as it shows that music is made for everyone, everywhere, and that no one should feel excluded from that.

When the lights turned down to indicate it was starting, the fans started screaming at the top of their lungs, and I was intrigued. He walked out on stage with no spotlight, and the mystery surrounding him captivated the audience even more, they were starstruck. He belted out his first note and immediately fans knew every word and sang along. He was dressed, head to toe, in a bright pink outfit that contrasted beautifully with the blue backdrop and made him pop even more. He walked and jumped all around stage, engaging the audience, and hitting every note in each of his songs effortlessly. Watching him perform made it look so easy, because he was that good. His smile was infectious, and every time he pointed the mic at the audience for them to sing along, you could see how happy he was to be with his fans. One could just tell performing and creating music is what he was meant to do. His energy lasted all night long, and the crowd matched him the entire way. Even though the stage was elevated quite high, his performance made you feel as though he were running around the crowd with you, singing together. When “Electric Love” started, the entire crowd erupted and one could feel the energy move from person to person. It was a moment of ecstasy that created a memorable night.

The acoustics were fantastic, as the Aragon provides a unique sound due to its ceiling’s circular nature. The Aragon is a Chicago music institution, and everyone has a story about someone they saw there last week, a year ago, or even “back in the day”. This concert is one for the books, as it is assured that it will be remembered for a long time.