The summer of 2024 has been hailed as the season of the pop girlies, and Tate McRae stands

prominently at the forefront with her Think Later World Tour. On July 20, 2024, Tate McRae

delivered an unforgettable performance at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

As a long time Tate McRae fan who has been listening and following her for the past 6 years, I

was beyond excited to receive a press ticket to review her show in Irving.

Once again, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory proved to be an exceptional venue. Having

lived in the DFW area for most of my life and attended numerous concerts over the years, I can

say that this is my favorite venue. I've experienced every section, from the lawn to the front row,

and every seat offers a great view.

The show kicked off with Presley Reiger, a young R&B and pop singer who has been

independently releasing music for the past year. At 21 years old, he began his set with his song

“Have Your Way” from his debut EP RUN. Presley was joined by two band members, Gavin

Alladeres on drums and Aaron Shadrow on guitar.

This was Presley’s first time performing in the Dallas/Irving area and he did a great job even in

the Texas heat. Presley shifted to his next few songs “I need to know”, “Disappear”, and “My

fault”. I only started to listen to Presley’s music a few days before the show but it's safe to say

that his songs will be on my Spotify Wrapped this year.

Presley expressed his gratitude towards Tate McRae and excitement about opening the tour

before performing his next song, "Nevermind." He shared that this particular song was pivotal in

his decision to pursue music, stating, "And then I created this song, which truly opened my eyes

to my desire to be an artist and singer, and my life has never been the same since”.

Listening to Presley’s music I can understand why he was the opener as his music and

aesthetic really compliments Tate’s songs and production. His vocals were very good and

consistent throughout the set and sounded even better live than the recorded tracks. While

there's room for growth in his stage presence, I'm confident he'll improve over time as he

continues to release more music and grow as a performer in the coming years.

Presley showcased his latest single "Typical," which I recommend you listen to if you are trying

to find new music.

Overall, Presley Reiger has good songs with impressive production quality. Opening for a big

name such as Tate McRae within just one year of releasing music is an impressive

accomplishment, and everyone should be on the lookout for what he does next.

Promptly at 9 o'clock Tate McRae took the stage and opened with her title track “Think Later”.

The 21 year old Canadian singer wore a beautiful white matching set that sparkled in the light.

The stage featured an elevated platform where Tate and her dancers performed throughout the

show. On the stage, a large screen displayed Tate singing, ensuring that even fans seated

further away could see her clearly. With the dynamic lighting, backup dancers, and live band,

Tate's songs truly came alive. Watching singers perform their music is always interesting, as it

offers a deeper glimpse into their artistic vision and interpretation. Watching Tate, I felt a

deeper connection to her lyrics, more so than in previous years.

She then transitioned to her next set of songs, "hurt my feelings" and "uh oh," before greeting

the audience. These songs got the crowd excited with an infectious energy and excitement.

Tate and her guitarist slowed down the show as they performed acoustic renditions of songs like

"Calgary" and "stay done." Tate explains that Calgary is about how she lives in LA but goes

back home for summers and Christmases to see family and old friends, and how she goes back

to old 15 year old habits when she's home. Tate also talks about what “stay done” is about: “Last year I went through this relationship. And it was really difficult for me because I felt

like this relationship lived in this sort of limbo stage of not knowing if I should break up with this

person or um if I should stay with them and um I felt it was impossible to let this person go um

so I know that every single one of you guys has this one person in their life…”

The stripped-down production allowed her vocals to shine beautifully. As everyone lit up the

venue with their phone lights, a starry atmosphere enveloped the audience, perfectly

complementing the intimate mood of the performance.

The show goes back to full production with Tate performing one of my favorite songs, “Messier”,

starting with her sitting on a staircase. The backup dancers moved and spun the staircase

around her, which added to the song's angsty tone and lyrics of confusion and love. Tate's

vocals were amazing, and the dancers did a great job conveying the complex emotions of the

song, enhancing the overall performance.

Later, Tate's stage transformed into a boxing ring—a cool and original design I had never seen

before. This setup enhanced the themes of heartbreak and love in Tate's songs, vividly

capturing the emotional complexities that can feel like a battle with a partner or with yourself.

She sings “cut my hair” and “rubber band” and “exes” with choreography in the ring. This was a

great way to add more excitement and keep the crowd’s energy up as the show was more than

halfway through.

What adds to Tate’s music is her honesty and authenticity in her lyrics and delivery. Her songs

are relatable and share common experiences for young people, including myself. It's this

honesty and ability to be vulnerable with her audience that makes her not just a great artist but a

great performer. This continues as Tate sings “we’re not alike” and “she’s all I want to be”.

The show was a great combination of all of her discography including her latest album, her 2022 release “I

used to think i could fly”, all the way to her early singles such as “You Broke me first”. As an original subscriber to Tate's Create With Tate channel on YouTube and a longtime follower of her journey, it's been incredibly rewarding to witness her evolution as both a songwriter and performer. I think with her “Think Later” album she's truly found her sound.

Tate has a distinctive energy on stage that truly sets her apart from other artists. Having

attended numerous concerts, Tate's performance stood out to me in a remarkable way. Her

stage presence is both undeniable and captivating. It's evident that her dance background

greatly influences her movements, enhancing the connection between her music and audience.

Despite the intricate movements, her vocals remained consistently strong throughout the entire

Show.

Tate's backup dancers, Maycee Steele, Stevie Doré, Bernard L. Bell, Amari Smith, Findly

McConnell, and Alex Mateo, played a crucial role in enhancing the show. The dancers truly

brought the show to a new level with their costumes and infectious energy. I look forward to

seeing Tate work with these talented dancers, as their onstage chemistry is undeniable.

As the show reached its finale, a cascade of confetti filled the air during "10:35," leading into

Tate's singing her hit "Greedy." After attending countless concerts, I can honestly say that Tate's

performance stands out as one of my favorites. If you ever get the chance to see her live, don't

miss it!

I want to thank The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory for allowing me to have the opportunity to cover this concert. I look forward to more experiences like this in the future!