KESHI 3.14.2023

Words and Photos By Faith Nguyen

Lo-fi Hip hop star Keshi brought his HELL/HEAVEN tour to Roadrunner on a gloomy Boston. On 3/14, Hell and Heaven might actually be the best descriptors to portray the conditions surrounding this show, as fans had been waiting in line outside the venues since the early afternoon in an unrelenting mix of sleet, rain, and snow. In true Boston fashion, the inclement weather would not hinder the anticipation of Keshi’s adoring fans, who packed the venue with energy despite the cold.

When the Vietnamese American producer and vocalist took the stage, one might have confused the thunderous cheers for another powerful act of nature. In reality, though, the shaking of the ground and screaming emanating from the pit were those of joy, beginning the more “Heavenly” portion of the night. Despite his mellow beats and chill, lo-fi signature sound, Keshi was a surprisingly high-energy performer. He bounced across the stage, prompted the audience to finish his lyrics, and lit up the venue with an impressive lighting production. At one point, he even led the singing of “Happy Birthday” to a fan in the front row.

With a primarily Asian fan base, Keshi proved to have a deeper connection with the audience than one typically sees at shows. As a child of Vietnamese immigrants myself, I definitely felt a sense of pride seeing him in such an esteemed position as he was on stage before a loving crowd. He made sure to spread the love too, repeatedly sharing his appreciation for all the fans who had shown up that night despite the weather. Chatting in between sets, he jokingly shared an anecdote that many Asian kids can relate to: that he had dreamt to pursue his music aspirations in college by attending Boston’s own Berklee School of Music, but his parents wouldn’t allow him. This didn’t seem to hinder his career at all, with streams on his music platforms totaling over a billion.

Coming a long way from the mere owner of a few beats on Soundcloud, Keshi made it clear to Boston that he is a performer and an artist. And one that everyone ought to pay attention to.