Destroy Lonely at Newport

I recently had the pleasure of attending the touring act, Destroy Lonely’s show at the Newport Music Hall. This show was part of his Forever tour, promoting his 2024 album, Love Lasts Forever. Despite being a fan of his music, I had never been to a Destroy Lonely show, nor one by any of his Opium label mates, but the narrative surrounding their live performances promised an incredibly energetic performance with a cult-like fan presence. It’s safe to say I was not disappointed.  

Photo by Jack Hamburger

I entered the venue and got through the line to witness a sea of black-clad fans who eagerly moved to fill up the central mosh pit. One thing Destroy Lonely excels at is distilling a certain aesthetic down into an accessible variation everyone can take as their own and build off of it, which while sounding cult-like, also allows for an incredible amount of self expression within one community. Some people went all the way, wearing dark gothic chains and avant-garde pieces that stood out, others just wore a black t-shirt and called it a day. Despite the crowd being composed of so many different types of people, it was clear that they were all united tonight. To prevent injury and to get the best possible view of the show itself, I chose to go to the upper deck overlooking both the mosh pit and the actual stage. 

The show began with Lil88, Opium affiliated producer and traveling tour DJ. As soon as he came up to the stage and the light’s dimmed, the crowd was ready to get the night going. Cycling through classics from artists like Playboi Carti, Ken Carson, and Homixide Gxng, Lil88 did not need to do much for the crowd to start tearing itself apart in its energetic fervor. The crowd began to undulate with the rhythm of the music, as people opened the pit and then immediately closed it with an incredible ferocity. When tracks like “HoodByAir” and “SS” played, the crowd not only knew every word, but almost choreographed a collective movement to standout moments. Backflips were abound, shoes were thrown into the air and lost. This opening set was designed to set the tone for the most energetic moments of Destroy Lonely’s setlist, and it did an excellent job there.

After about 30 exciting minutes, it was time to set the stage for the main performance. The crowd took advantage of the brief respite to rest, with bottles of water graciously handed out by the venue employees. The stage was reconstituted, the DJ board was moved to be out of the way, and blocks were set up to create a towering platform that Destroy Lonely was clearly planning on standing on top of at some point. The lights turned off, and the strobes came on as Lonely came up on to the stage. His presence was undeniable, not only as a towering figure, but because the crowd immediately went feral upon seeing him. He started the set list off with a track from the Love Lasts Forever Album, “Syrup Sippin”. The entire crowd moshed and shouted the lyrics in unison as giant smoke machines filled up the already foggy air even more. While I wasn’t in the mosh pit, the upper deck still had its own energy, with everyone singing the lyrics and dancing despite not being right up next to the stage. The setlist had plenty of tracks from different points in Destroy Lonely’s catalogue, which allowed for the mood and energy to shift throughout the night. Each one of his albums has a different sound, and the selection and structuring of songs created a rhythm where a string of incredibly exciting tracks would play that left the crowd gasping for air, and then a more relaxed track would play. An example was the last 4 tracks, with fan-favorites like “If Looks Could Kill,” “Never Ever,” and “No Stylist” playing back to back, before “Forever”, a chiller track from his newest album, closed the night off. 

After the show, a horde of fans were camped outside the back entrance, knowing that the artists had nowhere else to leave through. The energy was eclectic, with fans of all ages eagerly talking about what they just witnessed. Lil88 came out first, and the crowd immediately rushed him. He was able to take pictures with the fans and was grateful for their presence. Destroy Lonely could not afford to do the same. It would’ve been a genuine safety risk to allow the cult-like devotees to get anywhere near him as they tried to push past security, sneak through gaps, and wait outside his tour bus. It’s clear that through music, persona, and incredible live performances, Destroy Lonely, and by extension Opium, have a stranglehold over their listeners. 

Overall, its fair to say that Destroy Lonely’s show at the Newport Music Hall was an unforgettable experience. From the chaotic yet exhilarating mosh pits to the seamless transitions between high-energy and more introspective tracks, the performance was a testament to his ability to command a crowd. The night ended with an undeniable sense of unity among fans, who left full of excitement and wishing the night could continue. It’s clear that Destroy Lonely and the Opium collective have cultivated something special—an immersive musical and cultural movement that continues to grow with each performance.