Singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Blood Orange kicked off his latest tour with a sold-out show at The Anthem in D.C. on Tuesday night. He released Essex Honey, his fifth studio album under the Blood Orange moniker, in August of last year. Blood Orange joined Lorde on her tour throughout North America before embarking on a solo tour of his own. The Essex Honey Tour Pt. 2 is the latest of the British musician’s recent touring adventures. TLF Trio and Tariq Al-Sabir are joining the tour as openers.
Blood Orange, who also performs under the moniker Lightspeed Champion and his given name, Devonté Hynes, is an internationally recognized talent whose influence on the music world has largely been through his contributions to other artists’ work. He’s produced music for artists including Mac Miller, Tinashe, and Solange Knowles. His music has appeared in films and television shows, including Queen & Slim, Challengers, and many more. His music spans genres and his discography has spanned decades. He blends elements of rock, jazz, R&B, and electronica in his work.
TLF Trio is an experimental group hailing from Denmark. Their music blends genres and styles, often resulting in an abstract art effect. Featuring cellist Cæcilie Trier, pianist Jakub Littauer, and guitarist MK Velsorf, the trio blends classical music with modern sounds. They released their second album, Desire in September of last year. Tariq Al-Sabir is a composer, producer and vocalist, and professor based in Baltimore. He teaches locally at the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He collaborated with Blood Orange on the headliner’s latest album, including lead single “The Field”. With a sound reminiscent of Frank Ocean, Al-Sabir blends layered vocals with moving instrumentals, resulting in truly beautiful songs. Despite only having released one EP and three singles, Tariq Al-Sabir shows incredible skill and is an artist worth keeping an eye on.
Blood Orange’s set lasted nearly two hours with very few breaks between songs. More of a musician rather than a performer, Hynes stayed mostly towards the back of the stage, electing to have his backing vocalists and instrumentalists take the spotlight. Each song flowed neatly into the next, showing the thoughtfulness and care that went into curating the setlist. Hynes briefly shared words before a few songs, including before “Uncle Ace”, a track that he had not performed live in 10 years prior to the show at The Anthem. The crowd lost their minds upon hearing the opening chords of the song, cheering so loud that the music was almost drowned out. Hynes’ 2011 song “Champagne Coast” has seen a recent boost on TikTok over the past year, and his performance of the track brought even louder cheers. Blood Orange played 23 songs over the course of nearly 2 hours, barely stopping to catch his breath. The show was a phenomenal display of musicality from a generational talent.
Blood Orange will continue touring worldwide throughout 2026. The Essex Honey Pt. 2 Tour will see 3 more headlining stops in Texas and Georgia, all with Tariq Al-Sabir and TLF Trio. He’ll then play over a dozen festivals across North America, South America, and Europe, with a handful of solo shows mixed in.
Final Grade: A+
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