The cool Los Angeles night air swept through the Greek Theatre as Giveon returned home for a sold-out show on his “Dearly Beloved” tour. Fans—many of whom were dressed in sleek “collars and ties,” as the singer later noted—filled the venue with excitement and anticipation. After opening acts from Sasha Keable, India Shawn and The Free Nationals, Giveon took the stage at 9:20 p.m. to thunderous applause, opening with “Mud” as black-and-white visuals flickered across the screens.
“LA, it feels good to be home. We gotta show out tonight,” Giveon told the roaring crowd.
The moment was more than just another concert. It was a homecoming.
Adrian Paloma, a Long Beach native like Giveon, said, “It’s good for him to come back home. Kind of just rep the city. I’ve been a big fan since his album When It’s All Said and Done. It’s been like five, six years since I’ve been to a concert.”
Paloma’s girlfriend, Aeriel Malondo, added that this was their first time seeing Giveon live, and that she couldn’t wait to hear “Twenties” and “Heartbreak Anniversary,” two of her personal favorites.
I walked into The Greek Theatre knowing maybe three or four Giveon songs—enough to sing along, but not enough to call myself a fan. By the time I left, I had a newfound respect for him and his artistry. There’s something about seeing an artist perform live that redefines the music entirely—the vulnerability, the pauses between lyrics and the moments where the crowd sings louder than the performer.
Between songs, Giveon took sips of what appeared to be wine, drawing cheers from fans each time. When he transitioned into “Don’t Leave,” the audience erupted, singing every lyric in unison. Even after hours on their feet, the crowd never lost energy—swaying, singing, and soaking in every note from Giveon’s Beloved album.
Giveon’s voice itself is the main attraction. Each time he hit a note in that low register, the crowd would react instantly. People looked around in disbelief, smiling, nodding, and cheering at how effortless it sounded. It was clear they were witnessing the same voice they’d fallen in love with through their headphones — only richer and more powerful live.
“His voice is unique—it doesn’t sound like anybody else out here,” said Hollywood-based entertainment writer Shanelle Genai, who attended with her best friend Mya Abraham. “I think it’s very easy for artists to chase a mainstream sound, but he stays in his lane. He doesn’t make music that sounds like everybody else.”
Genai, who described herself as a newer fan, said she was drawn to Giveon’s Beloved album, calling it “very cohesive from start to finish” and “quite literally no skips.” Her favorite moment of the night came during “Heartbreak Anniversary.”
“That’s one of my shower songs,” she laughed. “I was really happy to hear him belt that out—he sounded better than I do in the shower.”
Her friend, Abraham described the night as “inviting” and said she was most excited to hear the “Beloved” album come to life on stage. “When I first heard it, I knew that the live experience was going to be something very special,” she said.
By the time Giveon reached “Backup Plan,” the entire crowd was in sync with him—singing, swaying and shouting lines back to the stage. The black-and-white visuals behind him gave the show a cinematic touch, adding to the emotional depth of his lyrics.
For longtime fans like Adrian Paloma, it was a moment of pride to see one of Long Beach’s own command a Los Angeles stage with such ease. “It just feels full circle,” he said.
As Giveon closed the night, he reminded the audience, “I’m playing LA tonight.”His declaration felt less like a concert announcement and more like a heartfelt homecoming.
Walking out of The Greek, I realized I wasn’t just leaving a concert. I was leaving a story—one of love, loss and the kind of soulful vulnerability that makes Giveon’s music impossible to forget.