Dorian Electra at the Royale, 2/12
It is crazy to think that I had originally written Dorian off because of a short snippet of “Guyliner, Pt. 2” I heard that I didn’t like that much. Everything changed when my friend gave me a proper introduction to their music last year. After she showed me songs that were in line with my taste, such as “Sorry Bro (I Love You)” and remixes of “M’Lady” and “My Agenda,” I was inspired to give My Agenda (Deluxe) a listen to take in everything these hyperpop bangers had to offer. After listening, I was hooked. We later listened to Flamboyant together, which solidified my love for Dorian’s eccentric and eclectic take on pop and electronic music. I even liked “Guyliner, Pt. 2” more than the first time I heard it. Words could not describe how excited I was to see them live, especially after flying through most of their discography in such a short amount of time.
I unfortunately arrived late, so I only caught the tail end of the first opener, 3L3D3P. She was in the middle of the crowd performing her viral hit “Ibitbt” as I was taking my camera out, so I did not get to see much, but she had great energy. Coucou Chloe came on stage not too long afterward and treated the crowd to her hypnotic club anthems like “WIZZ,” a dark, dynamic track that had me bobbing my head the whole time.
Starting their set with a bang, Dorian opened with the absolutely electric “F The World,” which got the crowd pumped for what the rest of the concert had to offer. Atop a raised platform and shrouded in darkness save for the two red lights behind them and the occasional burst of strobes, Dorian performed a mashup of “M’Lady” and its S3RL remix, which features Kero Kero Bonito. I had already spoiled part of the setlist for myself, so I was proudly wearing my Kero Kero Bonito shirt as I tried to get the perfect shot of Dorian in spite of the crazy lighting.
After a great run of songs that included highlights like “Live By The Sword,” “Edgelord,” “Adam & Steve,” and “Flamboyant,” Dorian played one of my personal favorite songs: “Mr. To You.” Assisted by stellar backup dancers, Dorian delivered a grand performance of Flamboyant’s opener. Two songs later came the song that got me into Dorian’s music: “Sorry Bro (I Love You).” From the moment I heard the colorful piano and synths blaring from the speakers, I knew I had to take my phone out and record the short but sweet song. “Guyliner” was another highlight, with Dorian hopping off the platform and switching to some fun choreography as the chorus began. After some other bops such as “Emasculate” and “Ram It Down,” I loved “My Agenda,” where Dorian and the dancers put on a great performance with smooth choreography. They even soaked the crowd with water guns and a water bottle with Dorian’s “Drink The Water™” logo on it. After concluding with “Man To Man,” Dorian left the stage but came back not too long after for an encore of a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Replay” and finally ended with “Career Boy.”
Thanking the crowd multiple times throughout the show, Dorian made sure to reciprocate the love that the crowd showed them. They had good reason to praise Dorian’s performance, too. Their energetic vocals, enthusiastic choreography, and awe-inspiring outfits came together to create an unforgettable experience. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a concert quite like this one before. It was certainly the most over-the-top concert I’ve ever been to, and that just added to the fun. When an artist makes hyperpop, a certain aesthetic is needed to match the chaotic and in-your-face nature of the music. Dorian definitely hit the nail on the head in this regard, making the experience enjoyable and tasteful. I cannot wait to see what they release next, especially given how interesting their artistic development has been thus far.
