Indie pop singer Conan Gray embarked on his Comfort Crowd tour on Oct. 29. The tour started in St. Louis and will end in Los Angeles. Gray will perform twice in his home state of Texas in Houston and at the Toyota Music Factory in Irving on Nov. 27. Alternative pop singers Umi and Benee will perform as headliners for Gray. 

Half Japanese, half Irish singer and songwriter Gray started his career by uploading covers and original songs to his YouTube channel, ConanXCanon. His channel’s popularity also grew due to his vlogs documenting his daily life with content about things like thrifting tutorials, room tours, and showing his artwork. What started off as videos showcasing his vocals eventually lead to the release of his debut EP, Sunset Season. 

His concert setlist will consist of songs from Sunset Season, with popular songs like “Generation Why,” and my favorite song from the album, “Idle Town.” The album became No. 2 on the U.S. Heatseeker Albums chart on the Billboard 200 chart. 

He will also be performing newly released singles “Checkmate,” “Comfort Crowd” and “Maniac.” Even though the Sunset Season EP is iconic and has a special place in my heart because it was his debut album, I love his newer singles because of their  faster beats and unique concepts. I’m most excited to see Gray perform “Manic,” because it’s the perfect song to sing along to and it is so catchy. One of the most euphoric experiences at a concert is when the whole crowd starts singing in sync with the artist, and that is bound to happen with Gray’s catchy lyrics.

One of my favorite things about Gray is his ability to create the most depressing lyrics that most young people can relate to, and put it in an upbeat song. I mean, he is the king of “sad boy pop” for a reason. 

Last time Gray toured in 2018 for his Sunset Season tour, he sold out all of his shows. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get a ticket last year, so I’m beyond excited to see him live now. So far he has hosted meet and greets before his concerts, where you can have a short chat, maybe get a hug and take a photo with him. 

One of the most important parts of a concert is the merchandise. Some artists sell ugly, tacky items, but Gray has the cutest merch. Fans can commemorate his tour with hoodies, t-shirts, posters, tote bags, beanies, records or CDs that will be sold at Toyota Pavillion and are also available on his website. I’m definitely going to get the acid wash “Maniac” shirt. 

Most people who have seen Gray in past concerts praise his performances because of his high energy level and crowd interaction. Gray’s popularity has grown due to his social media presence and his YouTube channel. From videos online and Gray’s Instagram, you can just tell that he is an upbeat and exciting performer. 

I’m so excited to see Gray perform in our own “Idle Town,” and fans are bound to become “Maniac(s)” for his thrilling performance.