This past Wednesday I had the pleasure of seeing the always fabulous Todrick Hall perform during his show, "Straight Outta Oz" tour in Houston, Texas. I have always been a fan of Todrick since I first pushed subscribe on his channel are pulling me into the creative mind that is Todrick Hall.
"Straight Outta OZ," is comparable as his version of "Lemonade," not surprising as Queen Bey has been a long time muse for Todrick. The visual album as I would call it, delves into the Todrick’s journey along the yellow brick road as a naïve kid in the small town of Plainview, TX to fame in the big city of Los “Oz” Angeles. The album features powerhouse voices like Amber Riley from Fox’s "Glee," "American Idol’s" Jordin Sparks and former Pussycat Doll, Nicole Scherzinger. This project is like none other he has ever undertaken.
Todrick is a masterful lyricist pulling out themes of homophobia, racial genocide and never forgetting where you come from. And Todrick owned his ties to the Lone Star State putting power show for his home state. The show started around 7:30 p.m. at Warehouse Live in downtown Houston. The line to enter the venue wrapped around the building. It was a diverse crowd: gay, straight, black, white, young and old it seems toddlers come is all shapes and sizes. Inside the venue, there’s high energy, fans bunch together pushing towards the front. The when the lights and flicker off and Todrick’s voice fill the room, the crowd goes wild.
Todrick performs opposite a talented crew of individuals. His ensemble acts as a gospel choir, sexy vixens, his childhood friends and the people of “Oz Angeles” There are so many much talent within the Toddy squad. I the divia, a trio made up of Vonzell Solomon, Virginia Cavliere and Judith Franklin. These three vocal divas take a role similar to the muses in the Disney’s Hercules. They embody Todrick time when he wrote jingles for commercial airlines. Vonzell takes Nicole’s place in the song Papi as the playing a Hollywood agent, wanting a little chocolate delight in exchange for fame.
Props must be given to Miss Teresa Stanley who plays Todrick's mother in the stage production. She brought the attitude and vocal fluidity to play a mother worrying over her child who is so far away from home.
Papi is one of my favorite performances of the night. The stage was steaming sexy. Dancers strut across stage laced in a strappy a red number. And speaking of sexy. Boys. Boys. Boys! Todrick spared no expense for these handsome beaus. The guys show off their moves in the performance of Lying to Myself. It is a solid three minutes of shirtless heaven.
The most powerful performance was “water guns” Todrick’s response the recent gun killings of black and brown bodies by police officer and the shooting of Pulse Night. Divia, Judith Franklin sings the part performed the by Jordin Sparks by the video version. The whole cast joined the stage hand in hand, draped in black in remembrance of those lost and as a reminder of the need for change.
The most touching part of the night is when he shouted out his biggest fan whose name escapes me at the moment. He was pulled up stage and thanked him for his continued support. This how humble Todrick has remain even with his continued success he knows that his fame and success wouldn’t exist without his loyal toddlers supporting him.
As the show came to an end, and Todrick belts out the final notes to the show’s closer, Home. The audience lets out a solid roar of applause begging for more-and they got it. Todrick and his crew created a mashup of all his YouTube hits from, Weave Girls, Twerkin in the Rain, Freaks like Me, Haters, and my person favorite, 4 Beyoncé. At final curtain call, Todrick and the gang did their final bow leaving all the toddlers with and night to remember. Until next time Todrick.
