Award-winning Colombian-Canadian singer Jessie Reyez’s eyes widen in surprise as she steps out from the dark blue mist to a sold-out crowd ready for the Paid In Memories Tour inside the South Side Ballroom on Monday evening (July 22).
“Yo, this place is fuckin huge. I didn’t expect so many people in here tonight,” Reyez admits to the crowd as she surveys the sea of fans.
The overwhelming attendance proves that the singer-songwriter is one of the hottest acts in pop culture. Reyez’s Paid In Memories Tour is one of the Dallas Observer’s “10 Best Dallas Summer Concerts.”
Jessie wasn’t the only one surprised by the huge turnout of approximately 4000 concertgoers. Curiosity about the 5-time Juno winner’s fandom was a common topic before the concert began. Making her debut in 2016, concertgoers shared mixed reviews of the sold-out show, ranging from pride to control.
“Lowkey still tryna gatekeep Jessie Reyez cause who are all these people (who said that),” and another, “Why didn’t y’all tell me Jessie Reyez that girl, oh my God.”
Jessie Reyez is known for her signature raspy yet powerful vocals, which range from a smooth, low tone to soulful, high-pitched notes. She matches the vocals with a multi-genre style that blends Rock, Hip Hop, Pop, and R&B. The Paid in Memories Tour supports her latest singles “RIDIN,” featuring Lil Wayne, “Shut Up,” featuring Big Sean, “Just Like That,” featuring Ari Lennox, and her new poetry collection Words of a Goat Princess.
In nine-inch heels, jean skirt, and stylish jean top, Reyez begins to take us on a musical journey with the edgy “Love In The Dark.” She struts across the stage with grace. Noticing the unfamiliarity in the crowd, she introduced herself like a rock star.
“What the fuck is up, Dallas?” she yells to the audience, leading into performing “I Do.” “If anyone got dragged here by their boyfriend or girlfriend. I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Jessie Fuckin’ Reyez.”
The L.E.D. screen set the mood with transitional moments that shared poetic messages, behind-the-scenes content, and soothing energy. Reyez would transition to the second tier of the screen throughout the show. From stars in the sky to ocean waves to dancing silhouettes, the L.E.D. screen supported the singer’s Rock, R&B, and Pop material.
Jessie brought her family on tour. Her father emerged as the singer’s dance partner as the two paid tribute to their heritage. Jessie delivers more poetry and explains her three goals for the evening.
“Goal 1, this is a no shame zone,” she tells the crowd. “‘What does that mean?’ I’m goin to tell you. It means that if you happen to be introverted, and this is how you show excitement. You do you, you be yourself. Don’t feel pressured to do shit, ok? You be yourself.”
With the introverts understanding the assignment, the singer turns to the extroverts in the audience. The instructions were similar.
She continued: “If you are extroverted and you came to have a great time, and you came to be loud, and you came to sing, and you came to dance. Do you. Don’t worry about what the person next to you is doing. If the person next to you is not singing, but you want to sing. if the person next to you is not dancing, but you want to dance, but you’re scared of being judged – that is irrelevant tonight.”
The second goal wouldn’t be challenging, as her fans have been screaming since the concert began. “I need to make sure that you’re going home sounding like an 80-year-old smoker,” Reyez cheerfully tells the crowd.
The band prepares to perform “PSILOCYBIN & DAISIES,” as Reyez breaks down the third goal. She wants to make tonight’s experience life-changing.
“I need to make sure that you go home feeling better than however you came,” she tells the audience. “So it’s going to be an evening on release. If there’s anything that piss you off today, this week, this month, we’re letting some shit go. Let it go. When I say fuck my ex, you say fuck my ex.”
The bras proceed to fly towards the stage as Reyez prepares the second half of her setlist. The energy transitioned from rock to personal struggles and heartbreak, the music that her core fan base fell in love with. On songs such as “Fuck It,” “Shutter Island,” and “Coffin,” Jessie spoke to the audience to discover when they became a fan.
One bra quickly transformed into a pile that the singer mounted on the mic stand. In exchange for the bras, the singer would toss out flowers. Jessie took a moment to reciprocate the love by leading an affirmation exercise.
“I am smart, I am strong. Oh, you needed more air for that bra [laughs]. You reminded me of something that I need to tell you before we continue. Even though I’m the one leading the exercise, I urge you to remember one very important thing. Don’t focus on me and move your attention and your intention towards yourself. The reason that this is so important is, when we do affirmations or when we do prayer and we’re by ourselves, it’s very beautiful, it’s very powerful.”
Following the affirmations, Reyez would perform a collection of hits that display her raw emotions and vulnerability in songs “COFFIN,” “FOREVER,” and “IMPORTED.” The crowd, which patiently awaited the performance of these heartbreakers, gave them the highest praise. Then, Jessie grew curious about where her Day One fans resided across the audience.
The singer would get the opportunity to speak to possibly the youngest fan in attendance, a 10-year-old girl. The young fan added to the singer’s amazement of the sold-out crowd in Texas, which led her to take the opportunity to address a serious topic.
As an immigrant’s child, the current deportation issue directly affects her, something she is obliged to address. Reyez’s message follows our extensive coverage of ICE protests and immigration raids in the DFW.
“If you are an immigrant or a child of an immigrant, can you make some noise?” she asks the crowd. “And I want everybody to look around – keep it up – isn’t that beautiful. You would have to be blind to not see what’s going on in the news right now, and I would have to be stupid not to say anything about it. So, that’s what we’re going to talk for a little bit. For anybody that doesn’t know, I was born in Toronto, Canada, but I was born to a very hard-working immigrant family from Colombia.”
At this point, the Paid In Memories setlist has addressed the fanfare, heartbreak, and representation. Now, Jessie wants to talk dirty. Blending her lyrics to her hit song “Jeans,” she talks to her fans about her favorite kinks.
“Can we talk about sex?” asked Reyez. “Oh my God, who said that? You want to talk about some dirty shit? Oh my God. You were just talking about being single, and now you guys are throwing underwear and talking about sex. That’s crazy [laughs].”
Describing her favorite kinks, she elaborates: “Do you know what the praise kink is? No, we don’t know. Can you tell us? Yes. A praise kink is when me and my nonexistent imaginary partner are doing this particular, ahem, they’re down there. And when they’re down there, because I have this thing that a lot of people with healthy self-esteem have, which is the praise kink, because I have that, they look up. And they say, “Jess, she’s the best.” And me, because I like it. I look down and I say, ‘Say it again.’ And then they look up, and they say, “She’s the best.” And I say, ‘Say it again.’”
The crowd chants “She’s the best” as the stage turns red. She delivers a raw sensuality through the song’s flirtatious lyrics. Couples throughout the ballroom cherished the moment as they cuddled.
Drake has referred to Jessie Reyez as a “national treasure.” On Monday evening, Dallas witnessed a one-of-a-kind talent. She commands the stage with raw intensity and unpredictable energy—dancing, pacing, playing piano, catching bras mid-set. Then, she proudly bears her flaws to bridge an everlasting connection with her fans.
Before closing the show with fan-favorite “CUDN’T B ME,” Reyez assured the song’s impact with a crowd recital. “Ok, ok, I just need to double check,” she tells the audience while proceeding to sing.
Taking in all the love from the roaring crowd, Yessie’s farewell acknowledged her fans’ importance and encouraged them to follow their dreams.
“Dallas, I’m living out my fuckin’ dreams. And the only reason I’m able to do that is because of people like you. Thank you for coming. Thank you, everyone, for coming out tonight … Peace and love, forever. It’s gratitude, forever. I’m just like you. If you have a dream, go for it. And before I go, my name is Jessie Fuckin’ Reyez.”
Jessie Reyez left us with a memory worth every penny.
SETLIST
Love In The Dark
BEGGIN 4 LUV
GOLIATH
I DO
PSILOCYBIN & DAISIES
FUCK IT
Shutter Island
Gatekeeper
COFFIN
6LESSINGS
FOREVER
IMPORTED
FIGURES
Great One
RIDIN
JEANS
CUDN’T B ME
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