Yungblud concert review | Cleveland, OH | 07.11.23

It was a crazy Tuesday (07.11.23) night filled with angst and positive energy at Jacobs Pavilion in Cleveland, Ohio. 25-year-old singer, Yungblud (real name Dominic Harrison). “I am Yungblud, you are Yungblud,” he says,.“Yungblud doesn’t leave Cleveland tonight; Yungblud is in all of you!” The bloke spent all his time on stage unleashing the anarchist spirit amongst a small but mighty group of loyal fans. So loyal, in fact, that some fans had been to even a dozen shows on this world tour. The Doncaster, England native has built his fanbase the old-fashioned way, through live shows and fan engagement.

The self-proclaimed loner’s style is one for the record books and he did not disappoint on stage. Rocking his iconic pink socks (hiked all the way up to his knees), as well as the crust punk-inspired high-waisted pants accompanied by white patches with what appeared to be the well-known Mcdonald’s arches(?) Yungblud gives 21st-century Sid Vicious vibes and he does it well. 

Yungblud came out of the gate with crazy and palpable energy. He ripped and ran across the stage to ensure that everyone could get a good look at him. The venue erupted as smoke filled the air and the punk rock banger “21st Century Liability” began. Yungblud continued being the rocker that he is known to be throughout the duration of the performance by taking a sip of Jameson before proceeding to douse the crowd with the white cup filled with liquor.

*Side note: As a photographer in the pit this was a very unexpected surprise that kind of stung just a bit but was definitely HARDCORE*

Some may view this act as typical punk rock bad boy behavior, which Yungblud isn’t afraid to lean into, but contrary to popular belief, the performer is the wholesome figurehead of a self-styled band of outcasts called the Black Hearts Club, in which he has attempted to build a fan community based on respect and acceptance. That was clearly showcased at the show when he encouraged the audience to introduce themselves to one another as well as hug and sway with their newfound companions during his song “Kill Somebody.”

The highly energetic set came to a close with a sweat-soaked Yungblud rendition of the Cleveland native, Machine Gun Kelly song “I Think I’m Okay” (in which Northeast Ohio’s pride and joy is featured). As suspected, the crowd erupted, reciting every word. And, just like with every other song in his set, Yungblud demanded more from the audience, wanting everyone to feel as cathartically drained as he was.

It’s safe to say that if someone entered who wasn’t yet a Yungblud fan, they definitely left a Yungblud fan! The positive energy and freeing spirit were so encompassing it would be impossible not to take it with you and need a hit of it every once in a while. 

The Lad couldn’t have performed such an exciting show without help from some great openers. Games We Play was the first opener and his party pop punk sound fit the vibes perfectly. The Reggrettes also performed as a precursor and their garage punk energy had the crowd dancing and rocking to warm them up for the main event.