On May 20, the 21-year-old producer and singer-songwriter Malcolm Todd took the stage at the Franklin Music Hall along with opener Sophie Gray for “The Wholesome Rockstar Tour.” The opener, a DJ, began her set at 8 p.m., and featured tracks from R&B and rap artists such as Glorilla, Doechii, Drake, Tinashe, SZA and Sexyy Red. She also performed some of her original songs, such as her latest single, “Fever,” and “Okay Bye,” a track from 2024. From the flashing red lights to the vibrations from the speaker, the set made it a fun time for everyone, and not a single soul was standing still.
As her set neared the end, the audience waited in anticipation of seeing Todd. As the lights dimmed on stage, the audience knew who was going to appear, and when he did, the overwhelming volume of yells demonstrated just how popular the young musician is. As the audience celebrated and the lights shimmered, Todd started off his set with the song “Harry Styles” off of his recent self-titled album, causing the audience to absolutely lose it.
Malcolm then took off his shirt, completely winning over the audience, before breaking into the track “Make Me a Better Man.” Malcolm continued to play songs from his new album, including tracks like “Who’s the Fool?” as well as the single “Bleed.” A fan favorite, “Earrings,” was played right after, eliciting the most euphoric reaction from the audience, and immediately transforming the entire vibe. The song is about a no-contact situation, which may have been relatable to many of the younger audience members that attended the show, and as a result, touched many hearts.
The song “4Me 4Me” was a major switch-up, being a more upbeat and lively song about Malcolm needing physical affection toward someone that he loves. As the music played, the couples in the audience began to sing and dance together, with the lyrics full of loving words. He continued his set with tracks from his debut album, “Sweet Boy,” including “Mr. Incorrect,” “Sweet Boy” and “Art House.” In the middle of the show, Malcolm shared the story of how he dropped out of college to follow his passion for music, which definitely paid off for him. However, he did advise school-aged audience members to continue their education, saying, “Stay in school, kids!”
This concert was particularly memorable for a variety of reasons, the most notable of which was that a couple in the audience was celebrating their anniversary, so Malcolm performed a cover of the song “Our House” for them. The song had comforting lyrics and soothed the audience by utilizing a single lamp on stage.
As the concert was wrapping up, Malcolm played more favorites from his newest album. He finished off the set with “Roommates,” a song about the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship and the impossibility of reconnecting with them. As the last few seconds of the song played, Malcolm told everyone to jump up and enjoy it while it lasts. His enthusiasm and energy brought smiles to his fans as the song faded, and he proclaimed his love for Philadelphia and how fun and supportive the crowd was.
After the show, one audience member in particular, Sam Stennett, a first-year student at Drexel, emphasized her love for the artist. “I am happy for him, he is getting the recognition he deserves,” she said, and while she did have to wait a long time in the heat, it was worth it because she has been a fan since high school and was very excited to finally be able to see him live. She enthusiastically mentioned how much she enjoyed the show and his overall performance, and how admirable she found him to be.
Malcolm Todd delivered a great performance, complete with a fascinating DJ opener, heartbreaking lyrics and an overall exciting set. The crowd adored everything he did, and for many who were there, it was simply unforgettable.