Alexander 23 w/ Renforshort & Grace Enger• October 11, 2022• The Complex
Reviewed and Photographed by Tomo Crestani
Alexander 23 brought out a solid crowd to The Complex this past week. With support from Renforshort and Grace Enger, there was plenty of music to be entertained by. It is always fun to have a show with 3 artists performing. Especially when they all have such entertaining sets. This was my second time seeing Renforshort, however, I had never seen Alexander 23 or Grace live. I actually wasn’t aware that Grace was performing until I arrived at the show, which was a pleasant surprise.
The venue was so quick at getting everyone into the show. It was a pretty long line outside, but they managed to make sure it went fast. The temperate inside seemed colder than normal, which was something I was very grateful for. The heat of a concert can sometimes ruin the experience. So I was very pleased with the effort to make the conditions comfortable throughout the show. The staff and security were very helpful and kind throughout the whole process of the show. I also noticed that there was a lot of interaction from security to fans.
This is just one more way the venue helped everyone in attendance have a comfortable and fun experience. Overall I thought Alexander 23 fit this venue perfectly. Although there was a little bit of room in the back for the two opening acts, it filled up almost all the way for Alexander 23.
Grace Enger
First on stage was Grace Enger. I hadn’t heard of Grace before this show but managed to listen to some of her music at the venue before she took the stage. Upon listening to her, I was very excited to see her perform live. With strong vocals and clear talent with the guitar, I was pleasantly surprised with her live performance. She was able to play a decently long set for a first opening set on a three artist lineup. The crowd seemed to love every time she belted out the high notes of her songs. Her powerful vocals brought a lot of energy to her rather slow and emotional songs. She also played multiple unreleased songs that I enjoyed very much. Hopefully we see them hit streaming platforms soon.
Renforshort
Next on stage was Renforshort. As I mentioned before, this was my second time this year seeing Renforshort. I was especially excited for her set because I remember enjoying her so much last time. She had released a couple of songs since I last saw her, and I was looking forward to hearing those live. She did not disappoint my rather high expectations. Her on-stage presence is truly amazing. She seems to control the crowd with such ease. I also enjoy how much movement she has on stage. Between jumping and dancing, I am impressed she’s able to keep her breath to perform her songs.
Her band is also very entertaining and talented at what they do. One thing I appreciate from Renforshort is her fashion choices. Coming onto the stage in leggings and Uggs, I loved how relaxed her outfit was. Although her outfit came across very relaxed and chill, her performance was incredibly energetic and fun to watch.
Alexander 23
After a long wait and two sets, Alexander 23 finally took the stage. He did something I have never seen at any show. He played his first 2 songs and then told the crowd he only had one more song. Upon finishing the 3rd song he left the stage and the venue put the lights on in the house which usually indicates the end of a show. Everyone began chanting his name and he eventually came back onto the stage to finish the rest of the concert. I wasn’t sure if he was serious and was only going to play 3 songs, but I am so happy it was a joke.
Alexander is possibly my favorite performer I have seen live this year. He was so entertaining to watch. I also thoroughly enjoy all of his music. He was so engaged with the crowd throughout the whole concert. One thing that really got everyone jumping was when he did a guitar solo with graphics from the famous video game “Guitar Hero” displaying on the screen behind him. Matching up with all the notes on the screen, Alexander played a very difficult guitar solo. The visuals throughout the night on the screen were absolutely amazing. He managed to have the graphics match the tone of every song and really bring the performance together. I also appreciated how he changed a few songs to be more entertaining live.
Alexander displayed incredible vocal range and immense talent on almost every instrument on the stage. I was very impressed by his showmanship. All three artists mentioned that Utah is notoriously one of the favorite cities to perform in for most artists. I always wonder if artists just say that to be nice to the city they are in, but I am starting to believe they might be telling the truth. Alexander 23 insisted that Salt Lake is one of his favorite stops. He ended his set by showing love to the crowd and throwing a flower into the front rows.
Overall I would highly recommend seeing any of these three artists live. I also recommend giving them a listen on all streaming platforms. Alexander 23 is already gaining popularity and will continue to grow as he releases more music. The Complex did not disappoint once again. I encourage you to find a concert that you think you would enjoy there. It is a fun venue to visit.