On a vibrant summer night at White Oak Music Hall, thousands of enthusiastic fans dressed in an ‘alternative cowboy’ aesthetic gathered to show their support for Houston’s own pop sensation, Keshi.
Adorned in black cowboy hats, boots, and striking silver jewelry, fans anticipated the arrival of the Vietnamese American artist, who took the stage bare-chested in a black zip-up hoodie and cowboy hat.
As the opening notes of his hit song ‘Amen’ echoed through the venue, the atmosphere crackled with energy. His powerful voice filled the space as he sang, ‘All of the glory, all of the weight of the world, on my shoulders crashing down on me, but I want more, I want more!’
With the song concluded, he turned to the audience and exclaimed, ‘Houston f—in’ Texas! Holy f—, it’s good to be home.’
This performance on August 4 marked a special homecoming for Keshi, formally known as Casey Thai Luong, who had just achieved a career milestone at Madison Square Garden in New York. Despite his international fame, Houston remains close to his heart.
Keshi’s music journey began in 2017 when he uploaded his first tracks to SoundCloud. Over the years, his lo-fi, genre-bending sound has attracted a massive following, amassing over 300 million streams and more than 7 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
Longtime fans Ashley Navarrede and Briza Morales eagerly camped out for nearly five hours before the doors opened, having followed Keshi’s journey from his early days on YouTube and SoundCloud.
‘He’s definitely representing Houston here, everywhere,’ Navarrede shared, adding, ‘He’s our pride and joy.’
Before immersing himself in music, Luong worked as an oncology nurse at the Texas Medical Center. Music began as a side project, with him recording and uploading snippets while working full-time.
In 2019, after a surge in popularity, he made the pivotal decision to quit nursing and focus on his music career full-time with a record deal from Island Records.
Fans who remember his early YouTube videos will recall his humble beginnings, where he provided insights into his creative process and shared how he crafted tracks like ‘like I need u’ in his breakthrough EP, The Reaper.
Today, his artistry is more profound and personal, reflected in songs such as ‘Texas,’ where he expresses yearning for his home state. The song invokes vivid imagery of nostalgia and longing for the places he loved, including references to US 90 near Sugar Land.
At the concert, the atmosphere was electric as a fan gifted Keshi a Texas flag, which he draped over himself mid-performance while passionately shouting, ‘It’s Texas, b—-!’ during a guitar solo.
Fans view Keshi not merely as a Houston artist, but as an emblem of the city’s vibrant culture. Kathryn Mey and Adam Bueno, who drove from Austin despite getting a speeding ticket on their way back to school, articulated a sense of pride in seeing an Asian American artist from Houston achieving success.
Mey emphasized the importance of representation for Houston’s Asian American community during Keshi’s performance, describing it as fostering a unique sense of community.
Others traveled significant distances, including Maribel Petraza and Jake Martinez from San Antonio, who were eager to experience Keshi’s ‘angelic voice.’
Sisters Jazmin and Dariella Davila drove five hours from Eagle Pass, while superfan Estelle Wang journeyed from the UK for what marked her 21st Keshi concert. For her, witnessing him perform in Houston felt like a celebration of his personal journey.
The love and support for Keshi were palpable throughout the concert. A group of fans held up a poster of his high school yearbook photo, showcasing his humble beginnings.
When another fan fainted, the show briefly paused, underscoring the fervor in the room. During his encore, waves of hands lifted into the air as the crowd passionately sang along to ‘Id,’ with lyrics referencing Keshi’s roots and milestones in his career.
The connection between Keshi and his fans was further solidified when he surprised the audience by debuting his then-unreleased single ‘Wantchu’ live on stage.
As he performed ‘Drunk,’ he took out his ear monitors, fully immersing himself in the crowd’s excitement. ‘Growing up, [I] played shows where there was no one,’ he reflected. ‘To see this big crowd—it means everything to me.’
This concert was more than just a performance; it was a tribute to his journey and the city that shaped him, encapsulating Keshi’s rise from local talent to international star.
image source from：houstoniamag
