Masego Captures Hearts in St. Pete at Sold-Out Show.

April 14th, 2023

The sun had set, and stage prepared for a night of musical magic while excitement filled the air, as a sold-out crowd eagerly awaited the arrival of Jamaican-American musician, Masego. His 31 city, “You Never Visit Me” Tour had already captured the hearts of fans across the country, and on this night, he was set to take the stage at Jannus Live in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Around 9pm, the lights dimmed and the audience erupted in cheers as Masego made his entrance.

Beginning his set with “Lady Lady”, the title track from his 2018 album, the largely female audience was immediately enthralled by Masego’s stage presence alone. Swiftly moving into “I Had a Vision” and “Prone”, a blend of catchy vocal hooks and memorable saxophone riffs reverberated throughout the venue as he slid across the stage. Refreshingly, in a day in age where cellphone cameras usually liter the field of view, the audience chose to pay Masego their undivided attention, clearly experiencing a strong spiritual connection evidenced with plenty of dancing both on and off stage. The three-piece band’s sound was powerful but clear, thanks to the deep, heavy bass synths, bass guitar, and drums that reverberated throughout the venue.

Moving into other hits like “Afraid of Water” and “Mystery Lady”, Masego struck the audience’s hearts by showering them with a lavish display of roses, waltzing back and forth on stage while making meaningful eye contact with lucky fans in the front. In a showcase of musical ability, Masego not only picked up the saxophone, but played the keyboard as well. Expertly, Masego continued to show his skill set as not only a musician, but a performer as well, throughout the entirety of the night. Encouraging active participation from the audience, he never lost their attention by using call-and-response techniques to get them to join in repeating lines like “Hi-de-hi-de-ho” and “Money, money, money” during the performance of “Black Anime.”

One of the most memorable moments of the night came at Masego’s introduction of his Tik Tok viral song, “Yamz”, asking the crowd, “If you’re having a good time, say, ‘Yeah!'” The audience responded enthusiastically, and he continued, “If you’re having a good time, say, ‘Yamz!'” The audience responded even more exuberantly, and the pattern continued to escalate. At the height of the exchange, the crowd emulated Masego by chanting the word “Yamz” in increasingly complex vocal melodies, creating a playful and lighthearted sequence.

Masego performs at Jannus Live in St. Pete, FL. photo by Isaiah Stephens ©South Florida Insider

So far, the set having included Masego’s older, staple songs, it was blissful and not surprising that his newer tracks received just as warm a reception, with

“Gemini” proving particularly popular. His on-stage persona exuded confidence and swagger, never letting the venues energy slip out of his grasp. Frequently introducing saxophone solos with the humorous line, “Make some noise for my saxophone!”, he closed out the set with “Silver Tongue Devil,” a sing-along track from his 2020 Studying Abroad EP, whose lyrics further highlighted his showmanship.

As the concert came to an end, the audience was left buzzing with excitement and their energy levels through the roof. It was clear that Masego’s exceptional talent and spirit were too big for the 2,000 person capacity of Jannus Live. The more than enthusiastic response from his fans, from across Masego’s entire tour, suggest that whatever his next big move is, you can be sure to expect an exceptional response.