Alexander 23 at Velvet Underground in Toronto

Chicago singer-songwriter Alexander 23 took the stage at the Velvet Underground in Toronto on November 23, 2021, as part of his most recent tour, aptly titled Oh No, Not A Tour!. His latest EP, Oh No, Not Again! was released in February 2021 and contains a handful of tracks that helped me (and I’m sure many others) get through the combination of winter/pandemic blues we were collectively experiencing coming out of 2020.

Needless to say, I arrived at the venue ready for a cathartic experience and, quite frankly, ready to cry. But, what immediately struck me about his live show is the light-heartedness and energy that was put behind all the tracks. Alexander 23 certainly has some bops, but his EP is something I put on when I need to get into my feelings. Walking into what, overall, felt like a dance party with friends was a pleasant and welcoming surprise.

Alexander 23 put a lively spin on the typically mellow Cry Over Boys and had everyone dancing with more groovy tracks like Girl, as well as a cover of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream. The show ended with a two-song encore featuring IDK You Yet, an introspective track about searching for your soulmate, and the energetic track Dirty AF1’s chronicling the hardships of a long-distance relationship.

Missed out on the show? Check out our photo gallery of all the action below!

 

 

 

Cassandra Popescu

Cassandra Popescu

Contributor at ADDICTED
Cassandra is a writer and photographer based in Toronto, Ontario. In 2015, she picked up a camera and dove into concert photography. Since then, she has covered events like Festival d'été de Québec, Wayhome, Toronto Urban Roots Festival, Field Trip, Canadian Music Week, NXNE, and many more.
Cassandra Popescu

@casssieandra

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