Overview:
Canadian-Colombian singer Jessie Reyez surprised herself and her fans with a sold-out show at the South Side Ballroom during her Paid In Memories Tour. Known for her raspy yet powerful vocals and multi-genre style, Reyez performed hits from her latest singles and new poetry collection, while also addressing serious topics such as immigration. The singer interacted with her fans, led an affirmation exercise, and tossed out flowers in exchange for bras that were thrown onto the stage. Reyez closed the show by encouraging her fans to follow their dreams and thanking them for their support.
Award-winning Colombian-Canadian singer Jessie Reyez’s eyes widened 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 f****** huge. I didn’t expect so many people in here tonight,” Reyez admits to the crowd as she surveys the sea of fans.
Shocking the Surging Singer
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 Observer’s “10 Best Dallas Summer Concerts.”
Jessie wasn’t the only one surprised by the huge turnout of approximately 4,000 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 rockstar.
Introducing Jessie F*****’ Reyez
“What the f*** 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 F*****’ 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.
Jessie’s Goals
“Goal [number] one, 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 s***, 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. If you’re scared of being judged – that is irrelevant tonight.”
The second goal wouldn’t be challenging as her fans had 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.
I need to make sure that you go home feeling better than however you came.
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 s*** go. Let it go. When I say f*** my ex, you say f*** my ex.”
Bras and Affirmations
The bras proceeded to fly towards the stage as Reyez prepared the second half of her setlist. Likewise, 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 “F*** 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 performed a collection of hits that displayed 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.
A Moment of Empathy and Concern
At one point, the singer got 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 the child of an immigrant, the current deportation issue directly affects her. Additionally, it’s a topic she feels obliged to address. Thus, it wasn’t surprising to hear Reyez’s message mirror 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 asked 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.”
She’s The Best
At this point, the Paid In Memories setlist had 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 s***? 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.” Then I say, ‘Say it again.’”
The crowd chants “She’s the best” as the stage turned red. Having thoroughly set the mood, Jessie began to deliver 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.
Closing the Night Right
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, Jessie’s farewell acknowledged her fans’ importance and encouraged them to follow their dreams.
“Dallas, I’m living out my f*****’ 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 F*****’ Reyez.”
Jessie Reyez left us with a memory worth every penny.
Additional editing by Sherri Yarbrough
