Fans received an intimate performance when David Archuleta brought his Earthly Delights Tour to the Bronze Peacock Room at The House of Blues.
Rachel Bochner started the night on a high note, as she entertained the Houston crowd from start to finish. In past interviews, Bochner has stated that her music inspirations are Lana Del Rey, Lorde, and other songwriters such as Julia Michaels and Maggie Rogers. It was easy to pick up on those inspirations during the course of her 30-minute set, as she was engaging, upbeat, and even intimate at moments.
Though most in the crowd were unfamiliar with Bochner at the beginning of the evening, they were afterwards. As she waved to the crowd, she noted that she would be at the merch table shortly. By the time it was time for the headliner, Bochner still had fans in her line, with new fans wanting to meet her. It’s safe to say that she definitely made a great impression.
In August, David Archuleta released his latest EP, Earthly Delights, followed by a deluxe edition under the same name in September. The new music marked a change from some of his previous albums. In his earlier work, he openly discussed navigating his personal life, from coming out, his mother’s reaction, and leaving the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints. Earthly Delights almost marks a new era for Archuleta, one that can best be described in one word: freedom.During the Houston concert, the singer told the crowd that his latest EP is all about finding the pleasures in life, embracing life, and accepting your true self. That message resonated with those on hand. While the music is new, Archuleta is still a showman through and through, and the fans loved every minute of the concert.
Early into his set, Archuleta made sure to connect with the audience. During his opening track, “Dulce Amor,” he made his way to the front of the stage, kneeling and extending his hand toward the crowd. It made for an intimate, yet fun, way for the singer to start the night.
That excitement quickly continued during the next song as he brought out his two backup dancers, Taelynn Ritchie and Christos Tsiantoulas. The pair of dancers would join Archuleta on and off throughout the evening, and helped set the mood for the concert.
In some ways, Archuleta felt like he was telling a story through his performance. The first third of his concert focused on joy and celebrating oneself. The second portion of the show was more intimate with tracks such as “Can I Call You” and “Hell Together.” The final third felt like a party and was all upbeat.
While Archuleta made sure to play the fan-favorites, he also incorporated some surprise cover songs into the performance. Most notably, Archuleta did a rendition of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club,” which excited the fans. Later in the set, he performed Selena’s “Dreaming of You,” a song that the Texas fans truly enjoyed.
While the set felt like three different chapters, the message of individuality was consistent throughout the performance. One thing was clear after the show: fans eagerly await what is next for Archuleta, and those audience members hope he will return to Houston soon.
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