Def Pen Culture editor, Ryan Shepard, took a trip out to The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland on November 27th to check out Aminé’s ONEPOINTFIVE Tour. Here’s what he found out.
It was cold enough to want to run to the nearest heated space, but warm enough to wait in line outside The Fillmore Silver Spring for the night’s show. As the doors opened, I could feel my phone vibrating as I received numerous notifications about that night’s Duke basketball game. At that moment, Zion Williamson wasn’t the greatest show on Earth. As I entered the venue, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew what I felt. From the door, you could see yellow signs and Aminé-approved merchandise that read, “You’re beautiful.” On the TOURPOINTFIVE, positive energy greets you at the door. It’s not an ere of excitement, but rather a feeling of acceptance. You’re wanted here. You’re loved, and for the next two hours we encourage you to be yourself and nothing but.
With only two studio albums under his belt, Aminé has carved out a lane that is a fusion of Missy Elliott and Andre 3000. He is far from reaching their legendary style, but that confidence, style and vulnerability that is unique in this generation. Nowhere is his style more evident than in his set list. Opening the show with “Dr. Whoever,” the Portland native sets the tone from the jump. He is here to have fun and be introspective. The best thing about his presence on tour is the crowd he attracts. Fresh from third period, the majority of the crowd in attendance tonight were about six months away from receiving their high school diploma. It makes sense. Aminé represents someone who is young, confident and evolving to a crowd that needs a leader.
A bit older than the average fan, I see Aminé more as the cool kid in school who was quiet and bit different from the rest of the crowd. Not to mention, he always finds a way to have a good time. Throughout the show, the Portland artist shows his different peaks and values through his music. He transitions effortlessly from “Together” to “Heebiejeebies” to “Reel It In.” In a way, it’s masterful, and in another way, he’s just being himself.
Ultimately, the show ends on the high note of Aminé’s “Reel It In.” Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how his younger fan base grows with him. As he grows, I hope we grow with him. As a 23-year-old, I feel like I know him. I feel like he was in my homeroom in middle school or my roommate in college. He’s black, he’s bold and he’s empowering. I just hope his fans continue to empower his career.
