If you haven’t heard of Teezo Touchdown, you must be taking a break from social media. The Texas-bred genre blender has graced the cover of Rolling Stone, worked and toured with Travis Scott and Tyler, The Creator, and created viral hits like “Sweet.” At this point in his career, Touchdown is on a clear trajectory to becoming a massive star. That is why catching him in an intimate venue like Philadelphia’s TLA is so special. Last Friday (May 3), Touchdown brought his Spend The Night tour to the iconic Philly venue and made the small space feel like Citizens Bank Park. His theatrical approach to live performance created an immersive experience: faux trees lining the stage, an interview that intertwined with the setlist, and a stage presence that turned his cartoonish persona into a larger-than-life mystical creature.
The night kicked off with a DJ set from That Good Shit’s Annabelle. Her set was captivating and electric. An equally attention-demanding stage presence mixed with a DJ set brimming with future hits, Annabelle made her presence known. More than an opener, Annabelle also conducted the in-depth interview that played throughout Touchdown’s set. The interview touches on Touchdown’s past and his plans for the future while painting an intimate portrait of the mysterious soon-to-be superstar. Behind the interviews and football-style stage attire is Teezo’s boardless music. Assigning a genre to Teezo is futile. His punk-influenced, hip-hop-tinged approach is held in tight pop structures, and his setlist for the rowdy Philadelphia crowd touched on every corner of his short yet lively career.
Touchdown kicked off his set with a medley of classic singles. Anthems like “Mid” and “I’m Just A Fan” juxtapose each other stylistically, but under the umbrella of Touchdown, they fit together like puzzle pieces. Die-hard fans will be familiar with the garage projected behind Touchdown. The spray-painted landmark is where the artist first started getting recognition for his unique approach. Touchdown’s live shows humbly introduce the future superstar. Despite the show being sold out, he performs as no one in the room has ever heard of him. He creates a warm and welcoming environment despite the awe-inspiring power of his vocals. The TLA could barely contain the crowd once Touchdown swaggered on the stage. His setlist was built like an auto-biography, including character arcs, conflict, and resolution.
After co-signing with some of the world’s most prominent artists, Touchdown released his debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night, in September of last year. The expansive LP was just as prominent in the setlist as his earlier work. Tracks like “Neighborhood” and “UUHH” garnered explosive pop from the rowdy audience. Touchdown also performed his guest appearances on Tyler, The Creator’s “RUNITUP” and Travis Scott’s “MODERN JAM.” The way he was able to slip into touching tunes after letting out explosive emotions. His danceable single “Rock Paper Strippers” closed the night out along with a rendition of his hypnotically aggressive “5 O’Clock.”
If you have an opportunity to catch Teezo Touchdown’s Spend The Night Tour, don’t take it for granted. Touchdown is a musician destined for greatness, and the way things are going, this could be the last time he performs in such intimate venues.
