Bryson Tiller: a name synonymous with R&B, known for his hits such as “Don’t,” “Exchange” and “Whatever She Wants.” Tiller has nearly 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify, three Grammy Award nominations, multiple Billboard Music Award wins; and for only $15, any Hopkins student could see him up close during a campus concert on Nov. 9 hosted by Student Affairs.
As soon as you entered the Ralph S. O’Connor Recreation Center (Rec Center) and passed through security, the tangible excitement could be felt through every student crowded around the stage. Groups of friends gathered — some dressed to impress, others sporting casual clothes, but all sharing the same anticipation. At 8 p.m. sharp, DJs warmed up the stage before the imminent Tiller, engaging with the Hopkins audience in classic Hopkins fashion: “If you’re going to graduate school, put your hand up!” or “if you have a 4.0 GPA or higher, put your hand up!” (and to no one’s surprise, basically half of the crowd put their hands up).
When DJ Flow took over, he kept the vibe alive, taking song requests from Hopkins students through Instagram direct messages, creating an intimate and personal experience. Although the DJs were fantastic in their own right, the palpable impatience for the main star of the day couldn’t be ignored.
Finally, at 9 p.m., the DJs wrapped up, leaving the stage in darkness. A collective hush fell over the room as students turned their gaze to the stage, holding their breath. Five minutes passed, then 10. Just as the anticipation reached a peak and the wait felt endless, Tiller appeared in a burst of light and sound, igniting the room instantly. The crowd erupted, and phones shot up as smoke machines poured fog across the stage, creating a surreal, almost dreamlike atmosphere with Tiller’s voice echoing through the speakers.
COURTESY OF STEVEN SIMPSON / PHOTO EDITOR
His smooth voice combined with the excellent R&B samples and the introspective, remorseful, yearning lyrics made its mark in the Rec Center. The soulful vibes resonated across the stage: the dark keys, sinister hi-hats and pain-stricken vocals reverberated through the crowd. Tiller made it a point to move along the edge of the stage, coming at times so near to the crowd that you could practically feel his presence. For those in the front row, it felt unreal — you could see every detail, from the print on his Fender graphic T-shirt to the emotion in his eyes as he delivered each line.
The visuals behind him on the big screen added to the experience, cycling through stunning graphics and animations that captured the essence of each song. Although some songs felt a little too slow at times, the exciting songs were interspersed in a way that would bring the buoyancy of the crowd back to ample levels. Personally, I am not a big Tiller fan: his songs are a little slow for my taste, but I definitely enjoyed the atmosphere and thrill that he brought on that Saturday night.
In an interview with The News-Letter, undergraduate student Camille Oteyza talked about her experience.
“I really enjoyed going with my friends; that was the best part,” she said.
However, there were some complaints regarding the atmosphere: two other undergraduate students in the audience — Henry Bai and Harry Zhang — commented to The News-Letter about the similarities of the concert to a high school dance, with the setting of the concert being in the Rec Center and the lack of a dedicated and fanatical crowd.
Nevertheless, the songs could be appreciated — Bai said that he enjoyed “Whatever She Wants” most. It seemed that the majority of students at the concert were not particularly big Tiller fans and more so attracted to the opportunity and idea of the concert itself.
In the end, Tiller’s show at Hopkins was a pretty great one, even if the vibe did give off a bit of a “high school dance” energy. Sure, the Rec Center setup wasn't exactly Coachella, and most of the crowd seemed more pumped about having a concert at all than being die-hard Tiller fans. But for $15, who’s complaining? With Tiller’s smooth R&B sounds filling the room and the crowd vibing along, the night had its fair share of enjoyable moments. Whether you came for the music, the friends or just an excuse to skip the library, Tiller gave everyone something to talk about. Maybe Tiller isn’t everyone’s vibe, but he brought the excitement, and excitement is just what Hopkins students need.
