Bebe Rexha @ The Riviera Theatre: Gay Rights and Twerk-Offs? The Best F*N Night Of My Life
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Bebe Rexha stopped in Chicago at The Riviera Theatre Tuesday night for the Best F*N Night Of My Life Tour with support by Zolita.
Rexha is a genre chameleon with a catalog spanning pop, EDM, country, and most recently, ‘70s rock. She released her most recent self-produced album, Bebe, earlier this year. Rexha collaborates with David Guetta, Snoop Dogg, and Dolly Parton on the album, proving that she can dominate all types of music.
The superstar took the stage in an iridescent tinsel floor-length jacket and feathered Farrah Fawcett-like hair, looking as if she just stepped into Studio 54. She was joined by two backup dancers for an energetic opening sequence. Rexha noticed that a diverse crowd packed the theater.
“Where my girls at?” Rexha asked, with a response of deafening cheers. “Where my gays at?”
Before performing the song “Sacrifice,” which she dedicated to the girls and the gays, she also asked if there were any straight men. Rexha was surprised by the cheers.
“That’s pretty good,” Rexha said. “That’s pretty good for me.”
The songstress informed the audience that her show was meant to be inclusive and that she accepts everybody with open arms. Rexha, being sexually fluid herself, has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights throughout her career.
Zolita, the supporting act of the tour, highlights LGBTQ+ stories in her music. She has found success with songs such as “Somebody I F*cked Once” and “I F*cking Love You,” which both center around WLW storylines.
“Representation is more important now than it ever was,” Zolita said after discussing the attacks that politicians have made against the LGBTQ+ community recently.
Rexha kept the fun going by asking for two volunteers for the audience for a twerk-off. Two gay men, one in a fabulous cowboy look and one in a RuPaul shirt joined her on stage during “Hey Mama” and shook their stuff. Things got rowdy, as one of the volunteers was visibly intoxicated.
“Sorry about that,” Rexha said, holding back laughter. “It got a little crazy for a second, but we love him!”
Taking it back for her “day one Rexhars,” Rexha performed an acoustic rendition of her 2014 track “I’m Gonna Show You Crazy” off of her debut EP I Don’t Wanna Grow Up. She got candid about her mental health struggles and gave the audience advice.
“Just know you will find light and you will be okay,” Rexha said. “Think of me in your brain. I love you.”
Rexha proved to be a vocal powerhouse with “I Am,” which she revealed is about being a woman in the music industry.
“I feel overlooked because I’m a female and I’m not that masculine, male, executive,” Rexha said. “This is my song to them.”
She finished her set with chart-toppers “In The Name of Love” and “Meant to Be,” before storming the stage one last time with “I’m Good (Blue).” Every phone in the audience shot up to get a video of her most recent hit.
“The best night of your life on your phone?” Rexha asked. “Who needs TikTok and Instagram right now?”
Rexha started the song over, urging everyone to put their phones away and live in the moment. The floor of the theatre shook from the amount of dancing and jumping, which Rexha encouraged. At that moment, everyone in the room had the best f*n night of their lives.
Check out the remaining dates of the Best F*N Night Of My Life Tour here.
All photos by Brady Jager.