I’d like to get informal about the Marc E. Bassy show. Not that me getting informal is me saying that the show was terrible — it just means that it was all that good. Atlanta is remarked for its community and their ability to party. With the nickname “Dirty South,” Bassy and his crew were excited to perform. Hosted at one of Atlanta‘s most remarkable and legendary venues, The Masquerade, fans were taken to heaven as they danced the night away.
With everyone wearing clad clothing and accessories to slay for days, the crowd was in full swing and it was only 7:30 PM. There were several openers for the show, each more entertaining and distinct than the other. It started off with Jake James, progressed to Rey, and ended with an icon: John K. The energy in the venue was not the usual buzz of a concert. No, it felt like you were out at a club and Marc E. Bassy just so happened to perform there. The good times were all around.
With reflective objects at varying heights, stage hands set up for Bassy’s performance. The Bay-area native was preparing for a night in the Dirty South and the crowd was ready for a stellar time. No more than 15 minutes later, the lights cut out and music began for his hit track, “Feel Different.” “You wouldn't ride for me, knowing all the ways that I tried to be.” Quickly pushing to “Trouble” and then “Just My Luck,” The audience was screaming at full volume singing along to every word.
The 34-year-old singer was dressed in a black puffer jacket and contrasting white pants, jumping and hyping his fans up. From “Levels” to “Some Kind Of Drug,” fans of Bassy were having their cake and eating it too. As biased as it will sound, when Bassy performed “Tell Me Lies,” I lost my mind. “Life's never what it seems, but it's still real to me,” Bassy sings. Instinctually, the audience croons back: “Tell me lies, tell me lies, girl.” Flashlights are in hand and in the sky, waving from side to side as Bassy sings his infamous love ballad.
The show begins to dwindle, with his final songs varying from “South Beach,” to “Free Like Me.” Fans got a treat when Bassy performed his song, “Bowie.” The singer reaches out towards the audience as he sings, “before you remind me that it's a crime, just let me fade in the heat of the night.” The crowd is buzzing, knowing that the concert is almost over, as Bassy takes the stage for his final song. “Everything was perfect for a moment in my mind,” the lyrics echo through the venue, sending the crowd into a frenzy once its over.
“Bassy, Bassy, Bassy,” the audience chanted after the singer thanks his fans for attending. Everyone looked around, wondering if they could entice him to return to the stage once more. After a few moments, the lights cut out for the last time. The crowd erupts in cheers and applause, as music begins to play. Bassy performs an encore, featuring the hit songs, “You and Me,” and “Subway Car.” Bassy remarks how hard Atlanta went that night and says goodbye for the last time.
Want all things Marc E. Bassy? You can find him on Instagram and Twitter (@marcebassy). Be sure to listen to his latest album, Little Men, which is available on all streaming platforms. Keep an eye on his social media for information on new music, merch, and more!
Words by Kaylee Pickens
Photos by Chandler Bunzol
