Hong Kong singer-songwriter Gareth. T performed the final show of his Expedition North American tour in Los Angeles at The Vermont Hollywood. Although the show took place on Easter Sunday, fans still flocked to the quaint venue in groups, nearly filling it to the brim. The crowd awaited the singer-songwriter with high anticipation, and at 8 p.m. on the dot, the already dim lights turned off completely, announcing the singer’s arrival to greet his fans.
Prior to the show’s start, the three screens surrounding the stage displayed something like an aura color reading, with green, signifying healing, growth, and balance, mixed with red, representing strength, energy, and passion. Whether intentional or not, the vibe of these two colors introduced the concert perfectly, as it was a night that showcased a balanced setlist and the full range of the singer’s diverse discography. Gareth. T made his appearance on stage while performing a cover of “Godspeed” by Frank Ocean, earning thunderous cheers from the crowd. Attendees quickly quieted down though to listen to the singer’s soothing voice as it resonated through the venue.
The pianist, guitarist, and vocal producer/hypeman/manager worked well together to create harmonious instrumentals that emphasized the singer’s voice without drowning him out. Gareth and the trio continued on with “Camo” before he took a quick pause to greet his fans. “What’s up LA,” he shouted gently, before dropping a hint at what the next song would be with a lighthearted joke. “In the front row, feel my shirt, touch the shirt. What material does that feel like?” With that, he dove straight into “Boyfriend Material.” Although this first section of the show featured a few more covers like Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” and Mayday’s “Onion (洋蔥),” the remainder of the show was dedicated to highlighting Gareth’s music and artistry.
The soloist prepared many of his various language songs for the show, with Cantonese tracks like “hyperromantic (勁浪漫 超溫馨)” and “idole sind tot (偶像已死),” and Mandarin songs such as “before you (遇上你之前的我)” and “polar express (去北極忘記你),” all slow ballad songs that showed off not only his vocal technique, but his ability to carry his emotions through his voice. English songs such as “Benjamin Franklin” and “Dishonesty” did the same, but with a lo-fi melodic flair. The singer even prepared an unreleased song, “Navy,” which was heavily influenced by Frank Sinatra.
While all stages were enjoyable and easy listening, Gareth’s performances of “Whole World” and “emergency contact (緊急聯絡人)” were undoubtedly the most memorable. With “Whole World,” the audience sang the song word-for-word with their phone lights pointed towards the stage. During the choruses, when prompted by the singer and his band, everyone waved their arms back and forth in sync as well, creating a strong sense of unity and shared energy between the artist and audience. Similarly, when “emergency contact (緊急聯絡人)” came up on the setlist, the audience was just as excited. Not even needing prompting from the artist, as soon as the first piano note of the song was heard, everyone’s energy was renewed, and the cheers grew louder to the point of nearly drowning out Gareth’s own voice. The nearly 90-minute show had quickly flown by.
The artist wrapped up his tour with a short encore, and it was time to officially exit the stage. With words of gratitude and a quick group photo, the show came to an end. Gareth. T wrapped up the tour on a high note, treating fans to a nigh of passionate performances and heartfelt lyrics.
Click on the photo below to view our photos from the concert:
