A Magical Night With Omar Apollo
By: Alba Lucia Lepe
Image Credit: Alba Lucia Lepe
Like a movie you can’t take your eyes away from. That’s how I would describe Omar Apollo’s concert in Miami during his God Said No Tour at FPL Solar Amphitheater.
Omar Apollo is a Mexican-American singer, songwriter, and guitarist recognized for his fusion of R&B, funk, pop, and Latin influences, and his emotionally rich music. Initially gaining attention through self-released tracks on SoundCloud and Spotify, Apollo broke out with his debut EP Stereo in 2018. Since then, his popularity has grown, to the point of being invited to prestigious events such as the Met Gala.
Omar opened the show with “Be Careful With Me”, a slow song that was accompanied by a beautiful choreography and a simple staging that aroused the curiosity of the spectators. Omar entered the stage wearing a long, voluminous light brown fur coat, which he then had to take off immediately since the Miami heat does not allow anyone to wear such a coat. Taking off his coat, he revealed a gorgeous silver suit with sparkles, which went very well with the aesthetics of the entire concert.
Image Credit: Alba Lucia Lepe
His setlist was a mix of slow songs, followed by a lively song where the audience jumped and sang, followed by a ballad where the audience fell silent to listen to him, followed by a reggaetón song that everyone was dancing to. And in my opinion, making it such a mix was a success, because this way, the songs were much better differentiated and did not blend together.
The way Apollo’s team played with light was really mesmerizing. There were not a lot of different elements, but they field the stage completely. Playing with fabric, visuals, shining lights that created shapes and drawings in the darkness of the stage... they created a beautiful atmosphere that completely engulfed me as a spectator. I, although it is true that I did not know most of the songs he played that night, could not take my eyes off the stage or him at any time, and the same thing happened to some friends I went with.
Image Credit: Alba Lucia Lepe
Omar's voice is also a highlight. Listening to him live is spectacular, as he has a range of tones that would impress anyone. He didn't miss a single note (or at least that I noticed) and he made the experience magical. He also interacted a lot with the audience, to the point of giving a shoutout to a fan that brought his family to the concert and playing rock, paper, scissors with another fan. By being there, you could feel the love his fans had for him. Many people brought signs, flowers and personalized t-shirts. I personally loved how well the fans dressed. You could tell that they were people who expressed themselves and connected with others through fashion, a characteristic that can also be seen in the singer.
One thing I would criticize about this concert was the location itself. I don't think that playing at the Bayfront Amphitheater was the right choice. It wasn't a sold-out show, and there were a lot of empty seats. Also, I think that due to the intimate nature of this concert, it would have been a much better choice to hold it in a smaller, closed theatre, where people's voices would have resonated more and the room could have been full, like at The Fillmore in Miami Beach. This show was a marvel for all senses, and I would definitely go again.
Strike Out,
Alba Lucia Lepe
