[Review] Durand Bernarr’s You Gon’ Grow, Too! Tour

Seeing Durand Bernarr live is more than just a concert, even in a venue with a capacity of 1,800. To put it simply, a Durand Bernarr concert is an experience!

The night started with a 30-minute set by Desz. It’s no surprise that the Houston native was a finalist during Season 19 of The Voice – from her powerful vocals to her relatable lyrics to her electric energy. The singer-songwriter set the tone and warmed up to crowd for what was ahead.

I (and millions of others) were first introduced to Durand Bernarr in 2023 after his Tiny Desk went viral, dressed like Bobby Proud from Disney’s The Proud Family but delivering vocals unlike any other! The Grammy Award nominee is small but mighty, and that was apparent after I saw him perform at the 2024 Essence Festival of Culture. Fast forward almost a year later and Bernarr is headlining a sold-out show at the House of Blues!

The You Gon Grow, Too Tour is in support of Bernarr’s new album, BLOOM, which is a love letter to his friends and support system in his life. The show opened with a video montage – starting with old home videos from 1989 before transitioning to Bernarr filming covers in his room, to career highlights like doing background vocals for Erykah Badu or working with his friend Ari Lennox on the ‘Shea Butter Baby’ album. Bernarr is one of the music industry’s best-kept secrets. After years of working behind the scenes, it’s nice to see the Cleveland native taking center stage and getting his much-deserved flowers!

The 36-year-old Cleveland native is a triple threat — vocals, dance moves, and his personality shine through on stage. My favorite part? You didn’t know what to expect next! One minute we’re watching him perform “Fist Bump” in a white tank and brown overalls, and the next, he’s dressed in a burgundy choir robe while taking it back to his 90s house roots! There was also a brief intermission where Terrell Grice, host of The Terrell Show on YouTube, appeared on the screen!

And Bernarr isn’t afraid to share the spotlight! He brought a special guest on stage. In fuzzy pink slippers, she exclaimed, “When I was here 3 months ago, I said I would be on this stage and this man made it happen!” Later, a fan named Brayden was invited on stage! Brayden blew the crowd away as he harmonized with Bernarr!

As the night came to a close, Bernarr had everyone repeat affirmations! As mentioned, his shows are more than a concert. They’re an experience, but they’re also a safe space. He was very open and honest about his healing, therapy, sexuality, platonic relationships, resting, honesty, and more!

I look forward to seeing what’s next for Durand Bernarr – he’s no longer the music industry’s best-kept secret. Today he’s selling out the House of Blues, and tomorrow, it’ll be the Smoothie King Center. If he is coming to your city anytime soon, I recommend grabbing a ticket and preparing for an experience! In his own words, “y’all thought this was a concert?!”