‘The end of the beginning:’ Lil Nas X

‘The END of the beginning ’

Helen Citino Story Irene Zheng Graphics

Lil Nas X’s “Long Live Montero” tour was the best concert I’ve ever been to. From the production genius, to the outfits, to the confetti, I don’t think I’ll ever experience anything like it again.

The first thing that stood out was how he incorporated his marketing creativity in a concert setting. As I waited anxiously in line, a music hall worker walked up to me and handed me a playbill.

Glorious images of a nude Lil Nas X as a butterfly immediately caught my eye; they were the first clue as to what I was in for.

Once in the pit, I was happy to have such an interesting playbill for entertainment while I waited two hours for the show to start.

Another way I kept myself busy in the pit was by people-watching. The best place to peoplewatch is a Lil Nas X concert.

It seemed like every area of Houston was represented. I saw all different minority groups, women, men, dads, varying shades of gender and sexuality expression and everyone’s outfit slayed. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many men wearing harnesses in one place.

I was amazed at the scope of people that Lil Nas’ music reached and how almost everyone can find relateable pieces and hope in his lyrics.

ACT I

A monstrous, neon chrysalis rolled onstage.

The lights dimmed.

An Effie look-a-like appeared projected on the velvet red curtains. She spoke in a dreamy voice introducing the show, a story of how a young man finds himself through music.

The curtains rose and there stood Lil Nas X, in a glorious golden jumpsuit, abs out, before a celestial background.

“Panini” went so hard.

Lil Nas X was a surprisingly talented dancer, and he knew how to rile up a crowd.

With each song came a new, intricate background.

“Tales of Dominica” and “Sun Goes Down” played with a hot pink, Sharpayesque dressing room.

“Old Town Road” swirled before a nighttime cityscape, which perfectly mirrored the album cover for “7 EP.” Before the song started, Lil Nas X rode in on a fake horse designed by Coach. Why? I couldn’t tell you, but the production level added to my adoration of the show.

The closing velvet curtains marked the end of Act I. The creepy lady came on again to announce Act II’s themes.

ACT II

My favorite song from the album is “Dead Right Now.” I was ready to riot if he didn’t put his all into that performance.

I was not disappointed.

Dancers around him wore cloaks with a shiny metal mask concealing their faces, and Nas had on the most gorgeous pants Coach has ever designed. The choreography was unmatched, and the whole experience seemed too sacred to be real.

I could not control the shrieking that erupted from my lungs.

Out of all the backgrounds, I liked the one from “Don’t Want It” best.

It continued the pink theme of Act I, however, it was more extravagant than any other. The screens depicted a flowery, gaudy 18th-century Versailles dressing room, and Nas came out in a shimmery pink adaptation of a Louis XVI outfit.

Nas created so much beauty in his concert that to say the whole production was a work of art is an understatement.

To mark the beginning of his transformation from a closeted pop star to an LGBTQ+ icon, Nas included an intermission between “Don’t Want It” and “That’s What I Want.”

The room got dark as thousands of tweets, comments and articles about him flooded the screen behind the stage. The overwhelming amount of contradictory opinionated commentary perfectly represented the theme

Nas explored in his album with songs like

“One of Me’’ and “Call Me By Your Name.” It showed the amount of pressure Lil Nas X feels in his role as an ambassador for the LGBTQ+ community. Every win celebrates a landmark triumph, and every loss invites homophobic backlash. How Nas felt in the stage of his life when he considered the ramifications of coming out is what he captures in Act II.

ACT III

Act III was transcendent.

In this act Lil Nas X shed his mask and became his true, fabulous self.

He introduced the act with a short film he wrote, starred in and produced. It was about a church.

The pastor (played by Lil Nas

X) vehemently preaches about sin and how gay people have a special place in hell. A little boy sits surrounded by passionate churchgoers yelling their approval. The boy squeezes his hand over his ears and shuts his eyes tight as the camera shakes and spins around him.

Cut to the stage, designed as Satan’s lair. I felt immersed in the music video when I watched “Call Me By Your Name” live. The background, the choreography, Satan’s throne. I was beyond myself. At that point, my voice had long since given out but I still screamed.

HE PLAYED AN UNRELEASED SONG. “Down Souf H**s” is the kind of song that forces you to dance. Your body just can’t help it.

Lil Nas X created the song specifically to twerk to, so he invited eight lucky participants on stage for a twerking contest. All the contestants were so good he couldn’t decide a winner.

“Industry Baby” was the best performance.

I was floored.

Dancers placed wings on Lil Nas X’s back, symbolizing his full metamorphosis.

The End of the Beginning

As Lil Nas X and his dancers took their final bow, butterfly confetti rained down into the pit. The crowd’s screams lasted a full 10 minutes after Nas exited the stage.

The complex themes of metamorphosis, religion and identity he expressed in subtle, creative ways had me analyzing every little detail I observed — right down to the butterfly confetti.

I’ve never been to a concert where the artist puts so much thought, time, energy and creativity.

As I exited, the electrifying statement “The End of the Beginning” hung above the stage.

This perfect end to my Lil Nas X concert experience only amplifies my anticipation for his next move.

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