Alex Sampson’s Thank You For Loving Me Tour: The Show Must Go On
- Rachel Catherine
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Article & Photography Contributed by Rachel Catherine
El Club in Detroit, MI, welcomed Alex Sampson and the ‘Thank You For Loving Me’ Tour for a night that felt incredibly special, despite the illness that was sweeping its way through the lineup for the evening. But none of them let it dampen the night, and it was proven time and time again that the show really can go on even when you're feeling under the weather.
The Opening Acts:
Maryjo, The Ultimate Hype Woman
Maryjo Young, one of the openers for this tour, took the stage with full transparency that she unfortunately had to cut her set from the night’s performance due to losing her voice. But she didn’t let the audience down; she kept everyone entertained in the gaps between Rikki and Alex’s set with her fun, unmatched energy, livening up the room. Her ability to liven up the crowd without a voice and using the fans as her voice to help her entertain the audience is top-tier, and the buzz never faded once.
Rikki Lumi, Breathless and Brilliant
Rikki Lumi opened up the show with her stellar set, rocking a gorgeous little party dress and moon boots. Her performance, barring the fight through losing her voice as well, was iconic. Rikki’s bubbly personality shone through with her beautiful, airy vocals that carried a beautiful tone with a touch of rasp that itches the brain in the right spot sometimes, along with her cute choreography as she worked the small stage, like she owned it. And she did!
Alex Sampson, Thank You For Loving Us / Small Room, Big Heart
When Alex finally hit the stage, the room completely shifted into a kinetic type of energy that felt electric. The environment and the space he has created not only with but for fans feels so intimate, it almost feels like you’re experiencing a private show in your own home. It was up-close and personal in the best way possible. That’s such a rare feeling to experience nowadays with artists. Alex Sampson is one of the very few artists left who have made live music feel so connected, intimate, and accessible. He just has that connection with his fans that feels so lighthearted and genuine, as if they’re close friends.
A few fans put together a fan project for Alex to put a small pink card over their phone flash while he performed his song Play Pretend. I wish I remembered to capture it, but watching it in the moment and seeing fans come together to do something special for an artist who does so much for their fanbase, creating amazing connections and music that they love, is such a cool thing to not only experience but to witness. One fan asked to come on stage to sing one of his most recently gone-viral songs, Pretty Baby with him.
During the set, Alex played a couple of fan favorites as well as a new song or two from his upcoming EP, which he teased would be coming out in May of this year. The night altogether felt like it was such a safe space, something I haven’t felt in live music in quite a while, and as someone who is also a part of the fangirl world, it was so nice to feel that again. He was so interactive with the crowd, and I always love that during shows when artists interact with their fans throughout the show. I could see that this night would be very unforgettable for so many fans; this was a night that I will never forget as well.
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