Malcolm Todd brought the “Wholesome Rockstar Tour” to Orlando, and the show lived up to the tour’s title.
The Orlando stop was one of 26 on the 21-year-old’s first-ever headlining tour, in support of his self-titled album. Despite his relatively recent debut to the indie-pop and alternative R&B scene, Todd’s performance was sold out days before he arrived in the City Beautiful.
Todd started his music journey in the middle of the pandemic, while he was only a sophomore in high school. Within a few years, he gained widespread attention in 2023 with viral hits like “Art House” and “Roommates.” Today, he has over 10 million monthly listeners on Spotify and has already earned a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the 2024 single “Chest Pain (I Love).”
Before the show, Todd took to his Instagram page to wish his opening act, DJ Sophie Gray, a happy birthday. During Gray’s performance, Todd and his band rushed the stage (wearing Gray’s merch, we might add), and hyped up the crowd as she played her birthday anthem, “No Hands,” by Waka Flocka Flame. Very … wholesome.
When it was Todd’s turn to take the stage, he bounced between songs from his latest album and songs from his first album, Sweet Boy, plus a couple of covers. Todd’s stage presence was (wait for it) extra-wholesome, satisfying those in the audience who were pleading with him to play “Art House,” a song that isn’t on his usual setlist.
And soon enough, the entire crowd turned on their phone flashlights as Todd dutifully sang the requested song that helped jumpstart his fame. Like many of today’s on-the-rise musicians, TikTok set Todd’s career into overdrive after songs like “Art House” became viral sensations.
Perhaps the most wholesome part of the show was when Todd paused the set to corral his bandmates away from their instruments, gathering them behind a microphone to sing a cover of “Our House” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
After bringing drummer Charlie Ziman, guitarist Luke Tyler Shelton, bassist Asher Katman and keyboardist Jonah Cochran to center stage, the lighting was dimmed and Todd explained how this cover was significant. Todd said that his bandmates aren’t only members of his supporting band, but his best friends and roommates — hence a song about living with those you love.
Watching from the sidelines, there wasn’t any other word to describe this interaction, other than “wholesome.” The audience stood respectfully, softly singing along, allowing the men on stage to have their moment together.
