{"id":331517,"date":"2023-09-22T09:55:38","date_gmt":"2023-09-22T09:55:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.co.uk\/?p=331517"},"modified":"2023-09-22T12:06:28","modified_gmt":"2023-09-22T12:06:28","slug":"omar-apollo-at-roundhouse-review-a-queer-pop-spectacle-on-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/music\/omar-apollo-at-roundhouse-review-a-queer-pop-spectacle-on-stage\/","title":{"rendered":"Omar Apollo at Roundhouse review: a queer pop spectacle on stage"},"content":{"rendered":"

In his one-off London headline show, the rising star pulls off a captivating performance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

WORDS BY JOSH OSMAN\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>

As a rainstorm washes over Camden, die-hard fans queue up for Omar Apollo\u2019s<\/a> sold-out surprise show at Roundhouse. Since his last London headline show at KOKO, last June, the 26-year-old has become quite the phenomenon. Between supporting SZA on her spectacular <\/span>SOS Tour<\/span><\/i> and going viral on TikTok, the breakout pop star has had quite the year.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Roundhouse marks the singer\u2019s largest UK headline show yet and, as his eagerly awaiting audience pour through the doors, his set hints at something special. Blinking red lights wash over onlookers and a spoken word introduction invites the band and Apollo, who\u2019s kitted out in a\u00a0<\/span>glittering, black bodysuit. Beginning with his alternative R&B-influenced single \u2018Ice Slippin\u2019, the singer bucks the tradition by opening with the album\u2019s introductory interlude. And, no doubt, the show setlist is sure to please with hits from last year\u2019s <\/span>Ivory<\/span><\/em>, as well as his former 2020 mixtape, Apolonio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Entracing the crowd, Apollo seamlessly switches through genres, sewing together playful styles and stage presence for an effortless performance. The singer\u2019s ease on stage is mirrored with his messages to his audience, as he shares advice and initiates energetic interactions. And, of course, there\u2019s humour too; a trait Apollo has become known for online. He quips about getting \u201cgaslit a little bit\u201d, subtly referring to the backlash he received for his \u20183 Boys\u2019 music video\u2019. Later, he slows this down as pays homage to Latinx Heritage Month; before the \u201cvery Mexican\u201d \u2018En El Olvido\u2019 \u2013 with colours of the Mexican Flag lighting up the room.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Apollo riles things up with tracks \u2018Talk\u2019 and \u2018Kamikaze\u2019, before retreating back into his signature softpop sounds. As things slow down, Apollo\u2019s stellar vocals take the helm, gliding between husky low notes and quick-fire rapping on \u2018Tamagotchi\u2019 to credible falsettos on \u2018Killing Me\u2019.\u00a0<\/span>With the show drawing to an end, the singer shares the slow-burning ballad \u2018Evergreen\u2019 with the crowd. Even the famous faces in the crowd – notably the <\/span>Heartstopper <\/span><\/i>cast – get into screaming the bridge back to the star.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018Go Away\u2019, a danceable tune with melancholic lyrics, swells inside Roundhouse signing off the set with an upbeat yet bittersweet end. \u201cIf you don\u2019t bounce in this song, I\u2019m gonna cry when I get home,\u201d Apollo jokes. But, for right now, there\u2019s enough queer joy and euphoria in the room to wipe away the dreary weather outside. It\u2019s a show of unforgettable community, showmanship and vocals. Omar Apollo has been the \u2018one to watch\u2019 for a while, but it\u2019s clear that he has every intention to kamikaze his way to stardom.<\/span><\/p>\n

GAY TIMES rating: \u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605<\/span><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In his one-off London headline show, the rising star pulls off a captivating performance.\u00a0 WORDS BY JOSH OSMAN\u00a0 As a rainstorm washes over Camden, die-hard fans queue up for Omar\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7421,"featured_media":331734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[205,620],"tags":[14755,297,6812,1191],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nOmar Apollo at Roundhouse review: a queer pop spectacle on stage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In his one-off London headline show, rising star Omar Apollo pulls off a captivating performance.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/music\/omar-apollo-at-roundhouse-review-a-queer-pop-spectacle-on-stage\/\" \/>\n<meta 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