Born in 1997, Yungblud is a 21st century rock star. Bridging a broad pop spectrum from rap to near-industrial rock, he writes compelling lyrics seeking a safe and nurturing place in this world. Uniquely, his own lived outsider experience has become a cultural magnet, herding young music fans into an alternative chosen-family community.
Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at a young age, Dominic Richard Harrison grew up in Doncaster, South Yorkshire in England often feeling misunderstood, unsupported and alienated. By age 20, he turned to acting and landed a recurring role in a short-lived British television program, The Lodge. Upon turning to music, he became Yungblud.
In 2019, Yungblud spoke publicly of his struggles with mental illness, in particular anxiety and depression. In 2020 he revealed that he first had suicidal thoughts at age 13 and that he attempted suicide twice. He found his salvation by being true to himself in his music and by incidentally rallying a vast international following of fans who like himself yearned for a sense of belonging while living their authentic lives.
Numerous transgender youth, goths, punks, mods and jocks peppered the audience at the Rooftop on Pier 17, unified by their allegiance to Yungblud. Their enthusiasm was undiminished by the drizzle from the skies and the shoe-soaking puddles on the ground. Many fans hoped to gain Yungblud’s attention from the stage with homemade signage.
Yungblud started the concert by running full speed onto the stage. From that moment, he commanded the spotlight as if he was the last entertainer left on earth and performed his songs with the energy and power of a contained whirlwind. The three-piece band ably backed him but remained in the background, as Yungblud’s audience focused on the charismatic, smiling singer and his alluring personality.
Rather than prioritizing his most recent album, Yungblud, released on September 2, 2022, Yungblud’s set consisted of songs from all three albums plus a few non-album singles. Opening with “21st Century Liability,” the heart-pumping songs continued for most of the show, allowing for only a few slower-paced songs. The second song, “The Funeral,” launched a series of lyrics articulating the importance of being true to self in difficult times. Later songs, including “fleabag” and “The Loner,” named the struggle for a genuine identity.
Yungblud sang well, but more memorable was how he used his microphone to rally the audience’s enthusiasm. He had the audience in the palm of his hand throughout the night, repeatedly having his fans sing along, raise their hands in the air, and jump in place. He frequently professed his love for his fans. A misuse of the microphone was that every sentence he uttered seemed to contain f-bombs.
Yungblud worked the audience every moment he was on stage, and even more when he left the stage to lean against the barrier holding back his fans. He worked mostly under bright white lights, which made him clearly visible throughout the performance. The musical arrangements left little room for instrumental breaks, so shared spotlights were very rare. Impressively, he arranged for “Sweet Heroine” to begin with him sitting at a piano before jumping back to the front with an acoustic guitar to conclude the song.
As he often does, Yungblud pointed to a young fan in the audience and invited her to come on stage and select the next song. In this case, he asked her to choose between “Doctor Doctor”, “Die for the Hype” or “Medication.” The fan requested “Medication.”
Yungblud asked the audience, "Who is at a Yungblud show for the first time?" A fair number in the audience roared. He then replied, "Welcome to the family!" He then asked, "Who has been at a Yungblud show before?" Another roar. He said, “Welcome home.”
Yungblud enjoyed being the center of attention, and the non-stop enthusiastic audience response led to him smiling during every song. He committed his time on stage to wrapping a solid fan-pleasing show around a collection of his better songs. He built on his connection with his fans, and turned his performance into a shared experience. He succeeded in giving the audience what they wanted, a totally engaging and entertaining 75-minute show. Yungblud is the rock star that the 21st century music world seeks.
Setlist
21st Century Liability
The Funeral
Tissues
parents
California
strawberry lipstick
fleabag
Medication
Anarchist
Kill Somebody
Sweet Heroine
I Think I'm OKAY (Machine Gun Kelly cover)
Encore
Lowlife
Loner
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The Manhattan Beat reports on New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.
For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the The Manhattan Beat home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."
For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's July calendar.
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