Zora Sicher
Audio By Carbonatix
Reneé Rapp has never sought to play by the rules. Since making her pop music debut in 2022, Rapp has gone viral for her often outrageous interviews, her ethereal covers — which at times rival the original iteration of songs — and her rebellious, confident personality. But she’s also remained outspoken about the things that matter to her, and frequently uses her platform to discuss contemporary social justice matters. And at the Irving stop of her Bite Me Tour, on Thursday, Oct. 23, Rapp doubled down.
Moments before the show began, a PSA played in which Rapp encouraged fans to donate to Save the Children in an effort to aid those affected by ongoing famine and genocide in Gaza, Sudan and Congo. She also revealed a special line of merchandise whose proceeds will go to save the children. Also, over the course of the night, fans were able to drink free water through Rapp’s partnership with Reverb.
The show itself opened with a video sketch of Rapp being interrogated by her manager, her publicist and an ex, all of whom were hilariously portrayed by Rapp. The video then appropriately led into her performing “Everything to Everyone,” with the curtains opening and revealing her standing atop a tower.
As the tower lowered, she switched up the tempo, commanding more of the stage to perform “Leave Me Alone.” From the beginning, the crowd was energized, repeating “Leave me alone, bitch, I want to have fun” throughout the duration of the song.
Those familiar with Rapp — especially those of us who’ve had the privilege of interviewing her twice — understand her brand of chaotic queer energy. The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory was filled with queer and gender non-conforming people dancing and vibing throughout the night, as the space felt safe and welcoming. Rapp prioritized her LGBTQ+ fans during her performance of “Kiss It Kiss It,” during which a variety of couples were chosen to kiss on the “Kiss It Cam.”
Rapp has long been open about her natural affinity toward writing and performing ballads, so naturally, she got a good portion of her catalog’s upbeat songs out of the way in the first act of the show. The transitions from “Kiss It Kiss It,” “Talk Too Much” and “Poison Poison” were seamless, and Rapp didn’t miss a beat from her dancing — though, at one point during the show, she admitted “I’ve messed up the lyrics like 10 times tonight.”
Following a second interrogation sketch, Rapp moved on to her favorite portion of the show — the ballads. “I love this part because I get to sit down,” she proclaimed, draped over a piano. She and Terrence Vaughn, who plays keys, went through much of her more downtempo songs, including “Shy” and “Mad,” which saw her tap into her rockstar confidence as she jumped from the piano and returned to the stage.
She maintained her energy as she performed “Swim,” during which she hopped off stage, walked past fans, and went backstage, capturing the moment in real time.
Upon her return to the main stage, Rapp sat down front and center as a chandelier with bras descended from the ceiling while she was performing “I Think I Like You Better When You’re Gone.” Immediately after, she and her guitarist, Ari O’Neal, began twerking to the intro of “Pretty Girls.”
One of Rapp’s most admirable qualities is the way she looks out for her fans. At one point in the show, a fan in the pit fainted, and she got other audience members to create a clear path for medical personnel to walk through. She noted that she had seen audience members pointing to the ceiling, signaling staff to turn on the two Big Ass Fans (literally, they’re called Big Ass Fans) above. “I thought you guys we’re pointing to God,” Rapp said. “I’m like, ‘Okay, we’re having a moment.”
During a performance of “Snow Angel,” several fans held up signs reading “you’re worthy” as she sang the line “I’ll angel in the snow until I’m worthy.”
Rapp has never been afraid to speak up on her personal politics. At previous shows on the Bite Me Tour, she’s shouted “Fuck ICE” and slammed President Donald Trump and his administration. She’s also been a vocal supporter of Palestine amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
This comes at a time when many of her predecessors in the pop landscape have remained silent on such causes. But with Rapp and her peers, pop music is in good hands. On the same night as the Irving show, Olivia Rodrigo performed a secret show in New York City as part of a partnership with American Express, with all of the proceeds going to Fund 4 Good, which advocates for women’s and girls’ rights. Next week, Doechii will perform at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, and earlier this year, she launched a mental health hub in tandem with her viral single, “Anxiety.”
Rapp and her fellow Gen-Z hitmakers across all genres continue to be vocal about a plethora of issues, aware of the repercussions that may follow. But with their large platforms and ardent fans echoing the sentiments, they show us that the kids are, in fact, alright.
