Lucky Daye at Royale 4/19

Casually strolling on stage dressed in a blue mechanic jacket covered in patches, matching pants, silver gloves, futuristic sunglasses, and chunky black and white boots, Lucky Daye exuded a distinct coolness and confidence. He carried this throughout his performance, which he began with “Candy Drip (Interlude)” from his latest release, Candydrip, which transitioned right into the next track, “Candy Drip.” 

Going into the show, I had only heard one verse from Lucky Daye, his feature on IDK’s “Puerto Rico,” but it was enough to get me to go, alongside a glowing review one of my classmates wrote about his 2019 album Painted for our journalism class.

Going in blind led me to expect a mostly soft and subdued R&B performance, but I was pleasantly surprised with Daye’s musical range, as he presented a variety of soundscapes over the course of the night. From slow jams to more lively bops, Lucky Daye gave an energetic performance complemented well by his live band, which featured drums, guitar, and even a keytar.

Opening act Joyce Wrice is also worth mentioning, as she too was wonderful to hear live. Having discovered her song “On One” almost one year from the date of the show, it was incredible to hear live. Wrice engaged the crowd, interacting with individual crowd members through short conversations, and her charisma made her the perfect opener for Lucky Daye,  who brought her on stage during his set to perform her verse on his song “Falling in Love.” 

Some of the night’s highlights included the feel-good “Late Night” and Daye’s biggest hit “Over” among other sleek R&B grooves. Lucky Daye is definitely a crowd pleaser and quite the performer, playing a stacked setlist, bringing fans on stage on multiple occasions to serenade them, and charming the crowd with his charismatic, sensual energy and beautiful voice. Definitely check out Lucky Daye’s discography for some smooth jams and a good time.