Leon Thomas • Ambré • December 11, 2025 • The Depot
Reviewed and Photographed by Logan Fang
“My name is Leon Thomas, and I like to dance.”
Standing before what looked like a sold-out audience at The Depot last Thursday, R&B sensation Leon Thomas turned to the crowd to offer a brief introduction before launching into his performance. The succinct greeting was a reminder that, to many, Leon Thomas is not an artist needing an introduction. While the New York native has steadily gained traction online since the release of his debut album Electric Dust, he is no stranger to the spotlight. Thomas got his first start as Tyrone in Backyardigans, a familiar show to most kids who grew up in the 2000s. He then continued his tenure in children’s TV, playing a sentimental, loyal character named Andre Harris in Nickelodeon’s Victorious. Now, Leon is celebrating the release of his Grammy-clad album Mutt on tour, joined by fellow R&B singer Ambré.
Ambré
The night began with a short set by Ambré, who delivered a hip-hop-infused performance accented by a sprinkling of soulful guitar solos. The set was deceptively simple as Ambré took the stage, accompanied by just her drummer. But with the jazzy instrumentals and extended solos Ambré incorporated into many of her tracks, the performance was far from plain. At points along the set, she teased the crowd, asking who was single before promptly stating that the next song was not for them. Following her 30-minute performance, Ambré wrapped up with an unreleased song included on her upcoming album that she reminded all fans to stream.
Leon Thomas
After a brief break between the sets, the lights dimmed, and two members of Leon Thomas’ band strutted out onto the stage. The introduction to his high-octane track “How Fast” played over the sound system while Leon Thomas fired up the crowd from behind the stage. The song began with the sound of cars revving their engines, matching the audience’s growing cheers, beckoning Thomas onto stage. After sprinting into view, the audience erupted, and Thomas launched into the track.
“How Fast” is unlike most of Thomas’ catalog, which mostly consists of songs featuring drawn-out vocal bridges and slower R&B melodies. However, the song’s upbeat tempo certainly set the tone for the rest of the set. Once the first song came to a close, Leon welcomed the Salt Lake City crowd to the performance and implored everyone to take part in a Mutts Don’t Heel tour tradition by letting loose one’s loudest bark. The venue descended into a cacophony of howls and yips in response to Thomas’ request.
Shortly after, Leon Thomos moved into another selection from his Mutt album, “Dancing with Demons,” where he first gave the audience a glimpse into his capabilities as an instrumentalist. During the song, Leon sank to the floor to perform the iconic guitar-pick-in-mouth solo, a nod to Jimi Hendrix. The showmanship did not stop there because in the next song, Leon treated concertgoers to yet another guitar solo during his performance of “Blue Hundreds.” In one of the following songs, Thomas ditched the guitar altogether and made his way behind the kit to play an impromptu drum solo that took many members of the audience by surprise.
Just when I thought Leon had sufficiently demonstrated his musical prowess, he grabbed a bass and began to play another piece. It’s rare to see a musician so proficient at different instruments and capable of playing extended solos on each. While I initially was captivated by Leon for his neo-soul beats and vocals, I became an even bigger fan after witnessing such rock solos.
Towards the middle of the set, Leon played a mix of older, slower tracks, including the fan favorite “Breaking Point.” During a particularly sentimental performance of “Love Jones,” Leon called on the audience to partake in a call-and-response with him, trading off singing phrases of the song. At this point, the audience had simmered down, and most phones were tucked away as people simply enjoyed the song. But once the infectious hook to one of Thomas’ biggest tracks, “Yes It is”, rang out, people once again cast their devices in the air to record the moment. “Who here is a Day 1?” Leon inquired, pointing to devoted fans scattered throughout the audience. As hollers sounded across the venue from veteran fans, Thomas headed into the song, backed by the now refreshed and alert crowd.
To close out the set, Leon finished the show with his biggest hit to date, “Mutt.” “This song changed my life,” Leon told the crowd. And it’s easy to see why—since the song’s release, Thomas has accumulated millions of listeners, worldwide attention, and half a dozen Grammy nominations for his sophomore album. His rising status in the R&B scene is evident in the almost completely sold-out show he hosted in Salt Lake and the packed shows he continues to hold around the nation. I’m looking forward to seeing how the up-and-coming superstar continues to make his way into stardom.