PHOTOS: Rex Orange County ‘Finally’ returns to the Bay Area

Rex Orange County

Rex Orange County performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on Nov. 19, 2024. Aaron Lee/STAFF.

OAKLAND — “What’s up Oakland!” Rex Orange County shouted on the first night of a three-night stay at Paramount Theatre, in the East Bay.

Rex Orange County
8:30 p.m., Wednesday and Thursday
Paramount Theatre, Oakland
Tickets: $62 and up.

The 26-year-old English singer, born Alexander James O’Connor, made his first Bay Area appearance since 2022 on his WHO CARES? tour. He came out to “Alexander,” the intro to The Alexander Technique, which he released in September. The track is a monologue during which O’Connor appeared on the side of the stage talking to his doctor about his back pain.

Shortly after, he hopped off the stage and walked up the aisles, shaking attendees’ hands while singing the emotional, introspective “Therapy.” Back onstage for “Guitar Song,” he energetically pranced up and down.

Rex Orange County

Rex Orange County performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on Nov. 19, 2024.

The performance included popular songs like  2022’s “THE SHADE” and 2019’s”Always.” Scanning there crowd, he noticed something that piqued his interest.

“Somebody just goes proposed to!” he yelled, before congratulating a newly engaged couple and continuing on with “Happiness.”

Tat was followed with three more high-energy tracks: “Sunflower,” “Television/So Far Good” and “Best Friend.” The singer asked attendees to put their phones away for a moment during the latter.

Behind O’Connor was a massive sliding door, which would open and close periodically throughout the evening. Every time it opened, there was a change in scenery, ranging from sunrises to snowscapes that matched the mood of the song he was performing.

The singer demonstrated phenomenal breath control and impressive melodies, not missing a single lyrics and without compromising his studio-like delivery. In addition to singing, O’Connor switched back and forth between playing a guitar and piano.

At the end of the show, after “Finally,” the lights dimmed while O’Connor and his band swiftly disappeared.

“Do ya’ll want more?” he asked from backstage, the band returned for fan favorites “AMAZING” and “Pluto Projector.”

Follow photographer Aaron Lee at Instagram.com/aaronxphotos.

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