As Thanksgiving festivities wound down and the holiday week came to a close on Friday night, Illenium took the stage to a sold out crowd at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. Illenium is currently on a short US winter tour in support of his new album, Fallen Embers, with this show being the second out of four shows playing at Bill Graham. This was my second time at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and my first time seeing Illenium live, making this a special experience.
After energetic performances from openers Paws the Music, Grant, and William Black, Nick took the stage by storm with a live remix of the leading single “Blame Myself” off his new album. The crowd was singing the chorus lyrics of “So I don’t blame myself” at a deafening roar, chanting in unison with Illenium as he danced on top of his stage setup.
Illenium’s live set took me by surprise as it was a lot more energetic with huge trap-like drops, compared to the studio versions of his songs. As I moved out of the photo pit after the first three songs, I looked to find a higher vantage point, since Nick brought out a full set of new visuals for this tour. Intersecting lasers, fog machines, and multiple pyrotechnics all combined to form a full visual experience that could only be appreciated from a little further out.
From the balcony level of Bill Graham, I took the rest of the set in and looked to capture moments where Nick’s music really resonated with the crowd. Crowd favorites “First Time” and “Nightlight” were anthemic singles that brought out the full force of the crowd. The energy throughout the entire set was unmatched compared to any other concert I’ve been to. It was truly an amazing sight to see 8,000+ people all singing and dancing in unison.
As the lights dimmed and Illenium began playing his final song, “Good Things Fall Apart”, the crowd roared and the opening guitar pattern echoed throughout the large auditorium. “Good “Things Fall Apart” was a coronation for Illenium, who had highlighted how much it meant to him that almost every show on the Fallen Embers tour was sold out, including tonight. As the crowd belted the chorus lyrics of “Tell me what you hate about me, Whatever it is I’m sorry” and as the confetti rained down, it felt like Illenium was finally back.
All in all, the concert was an amazing and much-needed night.
More shots from Illenium’s performance at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, CA on 11/26/21 can be found below. All images copyright and courtesy of Ardin Lo/Cut It Out Magazine. Enjoy!
Tickets for upcoming Illenium shows can be purchased at https://illenium.com/pages/tour. Also be sure to check the Official Illenium Website for music, videos, merchandise, and all upcoming tour dates. If you’re looking for a party, this is a tour that can’t be missed.
