Brett Callwood
Baby Tate Sexplores the Echo: Boy, have we been waiting for this show! Since we interviewed Baby Tate in December and, in the process, really dived into her Baby Tate Presents – Sexploration: The Musical EP, we’ve been psyched at the mere notion of seeing her bring the concept to the stage.
“I feel like this year I’ve just put on super big girl panties and I’ve been adulting more than I ever have,” she told us. “Learning myself, becoming independent, and I think with these discoveries I’ve also been having a lot of personal discoveries, which is why Sexplorations is called what it is. I’ve really been exploring who I am as a person, what I like sexually, and just putting it out to the world.”
So yeah, Sexploration: The Tour has been an exciting proposition, not least because the five songs on the EP are glorious, the videos a riot, and it’s fascinating to see how the concept would translate to the stage without a theater or arena budget.
Tate doesn’t need it (although she’d likely enjoy the success). At the Echo last week, her set was split into three parts, costume changes and all, and drag queens danced as dollar bills rained down in Tate’s absence. The evening had the feeling of an event, a glorious queer carnival, rather than a simple concert. This was a party, and everyone in attendance was there to participate.
After a wonderful warm-up by alt-R&B artist Chlothegod, Tate strutted onto the stage like the queen that she is, and never left up.
The tracks from the new EP sounded incredible — “Luv Everybody,” “Lollipop,” “Grip” and “Wig.” The latter saw members of the crowd throwing blonde wigs at Tate with the same enthusiasm that they were chucking singles at drag queens slightly earlier.
Older tunes such as “Eeenie Meenie” and “Pedi” bang by, and her version of “Hey Mickey” (recorded with Saweetie but solo here) was a joy.
It feels like Baby Tate is on the verge of making the leap into the big leagues right now, alongside her good friend Doechii (who, rumor has it, was at this show). Let’s hope so — she has the songs and she has the talent.
Baby Tate Sexplores the Echo: For more info, visit instagram.com/yungbabytate.
(Brett Callwood}
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