Words and Photos by Jim Michaels
Pop Break Live: Khalid at Madison Square Garden
21-year old pop R&B superstar Khalid kicked off his first of two nights at Madison Square Garden on his Free Spirit Tour on Tuesday July 31. The singer came with plenty of energy, running on stage in front of 18,000+ fans with a full dance crew to help him through his first songs, “8TEEN,” “Twenty One,” and “Hundred” to get the crowd moving.
Khalid moved freely on stage; joining along with his dancers’ choreography throughout the night. Despite the grand stage, Khalid didn’t show any signs of nervousness — he truly is born to perform. His voice was as impressive live as they are on of his recordings, which speaks to its power and depth, and his excellent vocal control.
While the singer was alone on stage for more than half his set, there was no lull in the show. Khalid’s voice and the overall visual production of the show were compelling enough to command the entire arena’s attention for a full hour and a half, never skipping a beat.
With a giant LED screen behind him and an overhanging screen, the visuals continued to switch up with the mood of each song, and injected even more life and color into Khalid’s songs and performance.
For his ballads, Khalid even took a seat on a lone stool positioned in the center of the enormous stage, set behind giant dangling ropes that created an added layer of visual appeal during those slower moments.
You can find more of Jim Michaels Music Photography at Early Bird NYC.
