Justin Nuoffer
CONCERT REVIEW + PHOTOS
Livingston w/ Camylio
11/14/24 – Majestic Theater in Madison, WI
©Justin Nuoffer/Nuoffemedia.com
The Majestic Theater in Madison, WI, the oldest theater in the city, played host to Livingston, the young upstart singer-songwriter who captivates the youthful energy of the country. The marquee hanging off the front facade of the historic vaudeville theater read LIVINGSTON. The light illuminating it shone out into the dark Madison night. The line out front of the glass doors led up the street and sat just a block from the state capitol. The rotunda glowed brightly. It was a perfect encapsulation of what was to come.
As the doors opened, the line moved through security rather quickly and the general admission tiers filled up fast. The main floor in front of the stage was beyond packed and spilled into the walkways. The balcony above which features booths, chairs, and seats was also full of people. The bar hidden behind the balcony stairs couldn’t have been busier. Down below on the main level, the bar was the same way. The massive bar top wraps around the left side of the room and in front of it a standing room rail also wraps around and leads to stairs down to the large GA floor.
Opening up the evening is a solo act that goes by Camylio. His cheerful demeanor was welcomed with open arms. He used multiple instruments across his quick set, starting with simple backing tracks through the PA that provided the pre-recorded songs. With each section of the set, he moved along to another instrument. From the mic to keyboards to electric guitar to an acoustic guitar, he smoothly ran through heartfelt melodies for the diverse crowd. With an electric smile, he often talked to the audience about life, love, and loss. With millions of views on YouTube and the popularity of such songs as “Strangers”, “Trouble”, and “Angel,” this performance proved the control he displayed on stage will definitely lead to bigger and brighter moments.
As the changeover progressed, small pockets of people chanted “Li-ving-ston” over and over. The stage was bathed in purple and it covered a lone keyboard piano off to the right, a drumkit on the left, and a small riser with his pre-programmed beat machine at center stage. Along the back were lighting rigs with a handle of lights rigged to a small rack a few feet off the ground. The lights pulsed as Livingston took the stage in a leather jacket with his name sprawled across the back. His drummer launched into “Half Life” and the crowd screamed at the top of their lungs. This was a common occurrence. The crowd was full of typical teen pop fans and family night-out types. However, it was noticeable from the start this audience was a dedicated one.
The band’s enthusiasm poured from the historic Majestic stage. Livingston is a product of his own creation. The Texas native learned to write music and performed covers. Those covers blew his popularity up thanks to TikTok. Now Livingston puts every part of his heart into the live performances that are a cross between Awolnation and Chelsea Cutler. The fans are the important part. Whether it was one of his singles like “Glow” or “Gravedigger”, he paid homage to his time before his Elektra Records full-length release. That debut album, A Hometown Odyssey, was released earlier this year in March and only on digital download. In fact, eleven of the fourteen tracks made it into the live performance. The fans knew very word of that album and at times their voices even out-sung him. The pure happiness on the faces of the kids and families was everywhere.
At one point, Livingston asked the crowd if he could join them and soon the floor parted in half and he climbed down. He handed out hugs and high-fives as he moved to the middle of the floor and “Last Man Standing” started to play. The joyous mood turned somber as Livingston serenaded the individuals with lyrics that were genuine, sincere, and warm. It was by far the biggest moment of the evening. The entire venue was in the palm of his hand. His confidence and control over his vocals were impressive. The album also produced several other gems that were captivating. “Neon”, “Architect”, and “Warrior” grabbed attention early on and never let go. Livingston engaged with the first two rows over and over whether it be holding hands or kneeling down and singing into the multiple cell phones held out before him. Closing out the evening, the riser sitting in the middle of the stage is where he sat and launched into “Shadow”. The room lit up in happiness once again and as the entire audience relayed his words back to him, his face lit up in one large contagious smile.
The entire night was one of thoe feel-good moments you hope for. The young self-made star was so humble and caring that it was hard to not walk away feeling warm and fulfilled. Families once again waited in line at the merch booth and the doors were flung open to exit into the cool Madison night. With the sheer beauty of the city combined with the event itself, you couldn’t have asked for a more perfect night out. Livingston, I am sure, felt the same way while moving on to the next show. His future shines bright and he has seized the moment in breathtaking fashion. It is safe to say, that Wisconsin anxiously awaits more material and future tour stops from this artist.
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