Jxdn and Nessa Barrett perform on stage during Lollapalooza 2021 at Grant Park on Aug. 1, 2021 in Chicago.
Kevin Mazur/Getty ImagesIn late September, punk quartet The Linda Lindas played their first headlining gig since their performance of “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library went viral in May. Held at DIY space The Smell in their hometown of Los Angeles, the gig sold out within minutes. “It was really exciting to see that [fame] come offline and into a small venue,” says the group’s music agent, Carly James, at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Translating virtual success amid a pandemic into triumphant live shows is a conundrum many young artists now face. This year, over half of those included in Billboard’s 21 Under 21 list identified touring as a field they want to learn more about. Meanwhile, agents and managers understand there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for a successful first run.
For example, with The Linda Lindas ranging from ages 11 to 17, a tour has to wait until summer 2022 once they’re out of school. (It will also, according to James, have to include parents and chaperones.) 24kGoldn, however, is jumping right in. Following an opening slot on Cordae’s 2021 tour, the 20-year-old rapper will kick off his El Dorado dates at the 1,500-capacity House of Blues in San Diego in November.
“The main preparation is the grueling long haul of the travel that he might not be used to,” says 24kGoldn’s manager, David Waltzer, of Electric Feel Entertainment. “The most trying hurdle he has to overcome is how to take care of himself [and] his voice to perform night after night.” Waltzer adds that 24kGoldn played a series of festivals this summer, including New York’s Governors Ball, to fine-tune his set for larger crowds.
That tactic has also been utilized by Tate McRae, whose 2021 has been full of festival appearances, from Lollapalooza and Firefly to Austin City Limits. Next year, she’ll launch a headlining tour in the United Kingdom before returning to North America for 25-plus dates. “Festivals have kept her really busy, raised her profile and given her a chance to meet her fans in real life for the first time,” says manager Matt Feldman of Hard 8 Working Group.
By the time McRae hit the festival scene this summer, fans were singing her lyrics back at her despite only playing a handful of shows before the pandemic. “Coming out of the pandemic we’ve had to quickly scale up the shows, and every time she gets better.”
TikTok star Nessa Barrett is scheduled to perform her first headlining shows in New York and Los Angeles in November — both of which sold out within minutes, according to agent Matt Galle at CAA. Given the sales — and the fact she performed alongside jxdn in front of 50,000 festivalgoers at Chicago’s Lollapalooza in August — Galle believes she’s already a headlining artist. Even so, he says the plan is to avoid more than three shows in a row to save her voice.
But his most vital advice? “You only have one first tour. Remember to enjoy it.”
This story originally appeared in the Oct. 9, 2021, issue of Billboard.
Faith No More appear to be hinting at a return to the stage in 2027.
The influential alt-metal band have remained mostly quiet over the past decade following the release of their reunion album ‘Sol Invictus’ in 2015. After its arrival, they played what would become their most recent live performances in 2016 and later called off several touring plans in the years that followed.
Now, however, they seem to be preparing fans for something new. The group recently shared an image of a concert crowd on social media with nothing more than the text “2027” placed across it.
No additional information accompanied the post, but it quickly sparked speculation among fans, many of whom believe a full scale tour announcement could be coming next year.
After wrapping up their 2016 run of shows, the band intended to return to the road in 2020. Those plans were ultimately abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further touring plans surfaced in 2021 as venues began reopening, but those dates were also cancelled before they could begin. Frontman Mike Patton later explained that mental health struggles were behind the decision and revealed he had been diagnosed with agoraphobia during the pandemic.
Until recently, a reunion seemed unlikely. Patton spoke about Faith No More’s lengthy break and said that he did not “see it as a sad thing”.
Speaking on the Kyle Meredith With… podcast and reflecting on whether he felt a “sense of closure” after the 2016 tour, the vocalist said: “I didn’t really think so at the time, but, yeah, maybe. I think that we all kind of felt it, but it was unspoken.”
“It’s funny: when you’ve been in a band or a musical situation for a period of time, you always, in the back of your head, you’re kind of thinking, ‘Well, maybe this is it.’ And I don’t mind that feeling,” he added. “I don’t see it as a sad thing. I see it as being present and being able to really appreciate it while it’s happening.”
Faith No More have never formally announced a breakup following the cancellation of their 2021 tour, although other members have suggested in recent years that the chances of touring again were uncertain.
Last year, guitarist Roddy Bottum discussed the band's future and admitted they were in a “really weird spot”. “I can’t really tell you what’s going on. I don’t know myself. I get different information from people… and I’m in the band,” he said.
Drummer Mike Bordin echoed similar thoughts last spring, saying that he and some of the other members were willing to perform again, but claimed Patton was “unwilling to do shows with us”.
In addition to leading Faith No More since 1989 after replacing original singer Chuck Mosley, Patton has also been involved with projects including Mr Bungle, Fantômas, and Tomahawk.
Tomahawk recently unveiled plans for their first tour in 13 years, with a series of US dates scheduled for this summer. The run begins in Nashville next month and will also see Patton and his bandmates reunite with longtime labelmates Melvins for the first time since 2003.
Patton has also recently launched his tour with Avett Brothers and teamed up with Jehnny Beth on the new single ‘Look At Me’.
