Concert Review: Harry Hudson Dedicates The Night To Pops At Rough Trade

Often, the people who want to be the center of attention, actually, want to be the center of love.The duality of such desires blended in Harry Hudson’s Rough Trade show and his sheer purpose to connect with every person, in that room, on a spiritual/ musical level. Dedicating the night to his Pops, who had recently passed, it was the clear his dad raised him right.

On one hand, Hudson takes the stage like “that friend” whom if you dared to jump off your roof at your pool party, he would say, “That’s it?” He is bold, brash, and has a literal tattoo of a skeleton wearing a red, cowboy hat, which tells me he wants to celebrate his life to the bones. Such a mindset could be seen when he jumped into the crowd to jump with us as if Rough Trade did not a roof. People soared with his rock n’ roller demeanor in songs like, “No Good”, “Kelsey” and “Whennima”, and reveled in how raucous he could make pop feel. Truthfully, when it comes to genres, people do not turn to pop or electro soul/R&B to induce a punk-level riot, but Hudson shows to groove is to rebel. Yet, one cannot party all the time, which leads Hudson to some heartbreaking tracks.
Harry Hudson – Gone (Lyric Video)

Tracks like, “Yellow Lights”, “Cry For Love”, and “Quarter Life Crisis” were particularly powerful in showing how his soul churns his voice. There is an earthy quality to his vocality that makes it feel buried under the soils of love’s wonder and life’s loss. Being a young guy, Hudson is aware of his blessings. He was, literally, headlining a sold-out, NY show; with people reaching out to hold his hand and tell him, “We are your team!”, “We are your fam!”, and “We love you, Harry!” Yet, there was something to their declarations that made it distinct from other concert “I love you’s”; the audience truly connected to Harry like a brother. Moreover, he complimented them as one; declaring that they were “beautiful” and his “literal dream”.
Harry Hudson – Yellow Lights

Perhaps, the most defining/ redefining moment of the night came when Harry cried over his dad’s passing. You could tell how he spoke about him that he was eager to mention the man that he calls his “best friend”, and would give anything to say “I love you” to him one more time. Thus, when he sang the track “Gone” and broke down crying, the audience was stricken by his grief. It was a raw, open cry that others would hide, but Harry wears his heart on his sleeve. While many felt bereaved by his pain, I felt respect for his artistry. With how he cried, it meant that that pain was in him while he gave one of the most hyped, adrenaline inducing shows I have seen. To carry that sadness in him like a heavy jug tied to his heart but then give a star-making show is EXACTLY how a good father wishes to raise a good, strong son. For More Information On Harry Hudson Click Here.
Harry Hudson – No Good (Lyric Video)