David Kushner’s Tour Finale in Oakland, CA
David Kushner wrapped up his North American headline tour in Oakland, CA this past weekend. The young folk/pop singer-songwriter started this tour in September, following the release of his debut album, The Dichotomy. After captivating listeners with his 2022 hit singles such as “Mr. Forgettable,” Kushner has continued to deliver reflective introspective lyrics with powerful soaring vocals.
A series of white lights flashed along to a deafening bass drum, building an eerie anticipation in the room before Kushner emerged on stage to his song “Darkerside.” His powerful vocals filled up the room, immediately drawing the crowd in. From the start, he made it clear he wanted to make this final tour stop a memorable night for everyone. His stage presence was undeniable from the moment he stepped onto the stage, captivating the crowd with his energy and ensuring he engaged with every corner of the venue.
Before performing "Mr. Forgettable," Kushner introduced the deeply personal track, explaining it was inspired by his grandfather’s struggle with Alzhaimers. The crowd belted along with him, which prompted a singalong moment at the end where Kushner held out his microphone and let the crowd finish the song.
Kushner introduced his song “Burn,” a raw and emotional song about being in an abusive relationship. “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been in an abusive relationship, I know that I have first-hand,” said Kusher. This created a collective moment of solidarity as many people in the room threw their hands up. “I wrote a song [...] dedicated to you, and I hope you’re doing better through that situation,” he added. Later, his team surprised him by bringing an inflatable golf club and beach balls for him to kick into the crowd. This created a lighthearted interlude in between the many emotional rock ballads.
As the night came to an end, Kushner followed with fan-favorites such as “Skin and Bones” and “You and Me.” He reflected on the tour before introducing his band. “It’s been so unreal and dream-like,” he said as he expressed his gratitude. The crowd called for an encore as soon as he left the stage, and Kushner promptly returned with his 2022 hit single “Miserable Man.” As the energy peaked, he ended the night with the most anticipated song of the night, “Daylight.” Kushner created a special moment for many fans when he jumped down to the barricade to sing the last part of this song. He left the stage to resounding cheers, wrapping up the tour on a high note.
Check out the full photo gallery here.
