CHICAGO- On October 14, the first night of Grammy Award-winning rapper Doechii’s “Live from the Swamp Tour” took place at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom. For the uninitiated, Aragon is a historic venue in Uptown with an eclectic mix of 1920s atmospheric grandeur, a palatial Spanish courtyard interior, and 21st-century nightclub equipment, complete with galaxy murals and a lone disco ball.
Although I am a huge fan, I’ll admit I was slightly nervous. The line for entry had stretched several blocks down the road by the time doors opened at 7 p.m., and some ticket holders were anxious about whether they’d even make it inside. My fears were swiftly assuaged, though, as she delivered a musical tour de force that would leave any doubter converted to a superfan.
The self-proclaimed “Swamp Princess” took the stage at 9:30, emerging from a two-story boombox set to thunderous cheers. The setlist itself was sectioned into “Lessons” like Bars, Flow, Genre, and The Art of Storytelling, with relevant songs for each section. Doechii’s masterful flow and impeccable breath control were on display as she began with the slick rhymes of “STANKA POO,” “BOILED PEANUTS,” and the energy quickly ramped up for her viral hit “NISSAN ALTIMA.”
The stage was Doechii’s playground, and we had clearly arrived right on time for recess. She barely spent a moment in one spot as she danced, strutted, and sang her way up and down the set. (Spoiler alert: there are slides and she uses them!) Her versatility cannot be understated, as she delivered covers such as a freestyle over Beyoncé’s “America Has a Problem” as well as remixes of audience favorites- a standout being “Persuasive” with snippets of Charli xcx’s “360.”
However, the one thing Doechii emphasized the most was community. Her act was supported by longtime collaborator DJ Miss Milan, with dancing from her younger sisters Sydney and Courtney. Audience participation was welcomed- “Alter Ego” even began with a call-and-response to the audience. As the crowd was coming off the high of performing Tyler, the Creator’s parts in “Balloon,” she urged us to hold one another close. “We are your community tonight,” she declared to those who had come alone.
The encore performance was cut short, but as I followed the throngs of people down Aragon’s grand staircase on dance-sore legs, I was certain of one thing: the next visit Doechii makes to Chicago, I’ll be first in line.
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