Tori Kelly served nostalgia R&B at The Midland

May 7, 2024

Mar'Che Boggess, Kylee Gregg,

Tori Kelly. // photo by Kylee Gregg

Tori Kelly brought all the nostalgia to the Midland on Friday night as she wrapped up the first leg of her Purple Skies Tour following the release of her self-titled album last month. Heavily inspired by late ‘90s and early ‘00s R&B, her new sound appeals to an older generation, while welcoming new listeners to the fold.

Zinadelphia. // photo by Kylee Gregg

Neo-soul artist Zinadelphia, who opened for Teddy Swims at The Midland just six months ago, kicked off the night with soulful vocals on her latest single, “Love Over Glory.,” instantly commanding the attention of the room. Opening on the purple skies tour has been a full circle moment for the 24-year-old who noted she’s been practicing Tori Kelly’s riffs and runs since she was 15. Proving to be a powerhouse in her own right, her set showcased her dynamic range. From funk-inspired originals like “Love Language” and “Cosmos” to a sax-heavy ballad rendition of Gloria Raynor’s “I Will Survive,” she certainly made her mark.

Tori Kelly took the stage at 9 p.m., captivating the audience with the opening track on her latest album “thing u do” complete with a full choreography routine, showing fans another side of herself and a newfound sense of freedom. She kept the crowd on their toes with the Timbaland and Aaliyah-inspired “cut” which flowed seamlessly into “Say My Name” by Destiny’s Child.

About halfway through her set, Kelly pulled out her purple acoustic guitar and let the crowd do the honors of deciding what she should perform next. Amidst screams from either side of the room, she eyed a sign from fans requesting her to perform her acoustic cover of “PYT” by Michael Jackson from her OG YouTube days. She cut straight to the chase and sang it acapella, followed by another crowd favorite, “Confetti.”

Shortly after, she brought Zinadelphia back out on stage to join her in a cover of Aretha Franklin’s “I Say A Little Prayer For You,” as a treat to Kansas City for being the last show on this leg. Their voices complimented each other well, and it was adorable seeing them fangirl over each other the whole time.

The acoustic rendition of “oceans” provided a great segue into the latter half of the set as Kelly performed inspirational and uplifting songs like “high water,” “Never Alone,” “I’ll Find You,” and “shine on.” The crowd truly felt like one big choir and it was absolutely beautiful.

Kelly’s performance of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” deserved a moment of its own, and rightfully so. It was a stellar showcase of her vocal agility and left all of us shook. Did I mention she did this all while sitting?

“same girl” following behind “Unbreakable Smile” in the latter half of the set felt like a gentle reminder from Kelly to fans that while they’ve met many versions of her over the last decade, the essence of who she is hasn’t changed a bit.

As the night drew to a close, Kelly was feeling all the feels. “Thank y’all for making little Tori’s dreams comes true,” she said while fighting back tears.

Carrying the nostalgic mood of the night all the way through, Kelly ended the show with early 2000s inspired, “missin u,” singing “Kansas City I’m already missing you.”

We are too, Tori, we are too.

All photos by Kylee Gregg

Tori Kelly