PRETTYMUCH are the American-Canadian boyband made up of Brandon Arreaga, Edwin Honoret, Austin Porter, Nick Mara, and Zion Kuwonu, who have been winning over music lovers one song at a time since 2016.
The five-piece group have already toured a lot in the States, however, for their UK Beanz, the wait for a live performance from the boys has been a long one. Aside from a TV performance on The X Factor back in 2017, PRETTYMUCH have never performed in the UK however, that all changed last night (June 10) during an intimate showcase as London’s Scala.
With fans being given the opportunity to win tickets, the venue was jam packed from corner to corner with people who’d travelled from all over to experience the PRETTYMUCH magic first hand. From the second we entered the venue, we knew we were in for a special night as the atmosphere and energy from the crowd was just electric. With a DJ hyping them up by playing some great songs, the fans were fully energised before Brandon, Edwin, Austin, Nick and Zion even made their way to the stage, singing along at the top of their lungs to the pre-gig music.
However, as soon as PRETTYMUCH arrived on stage, the crowd erupted in a way we’ve never witnessed before. Sure, we’ve watched all calibres of artists perform in the past, from rising stars to global giants, however, we’re certain that no fans have been as deafening yet enthusiastic as the UK Beanz.
Opening with ‘On My Way’, the band had the crowd in the palms of their hands from the off and the phenomenal energy continued throughout their set, with the fans jumping, dancing and singing along to every word. During the set, which also consisted of ‘Solita’, ‘Blind’, ‘Phases’, ‘Would You Mind’, and ‘Open Arms’, PRETTYMUCH showcased their great vocals whilst also capturing the different sides to their artistry and the elements which make them such a great band.
The Spanish-tinged ‘Solita’ gave the band a chance to show off some samba-esque moves, whilst ‘Blind’ was a gorgeous moment between the boys and their fans. ‘Phases’, the lead single from their recent EP of the same name highlighted PRETTYMUCH’s growth since their debut single ‘Would You Mind’, although unsurprisingly their debut track was a bit hit with the audience thanks to the band’s snappy dance moves. Then came ‘Open Arms’, which was definitely a highlight of the show, with the five-piece stripping everything back and focusing on their flawless vocals.
Whilst the showcase was short but sweet, it gave fans a taste of the PRETTYMUCH live experience they’ve been craving for so long and very much left the entire room longing for a proper UK tour. From their tight vocals to their slick dance routines, the band put on an impressive show whilst also put across their infectious personalities. There was an element of fun to their dance routines whilst there was also banter to be had in between tracks, including a cheeky plug of their new merch as modelled by Zion, which led to him stripping off and chucking his t-shirt into the crowd, causing a mass frenzy.
Not only did the audience appreciate finally getting to see the boys perform live, but for many it was their first chance to meet the band, with PRETTYMUCH taking the time to meet and greet everyone after the show. The band had already expressed their gratitude at finally getting to perform in the UK whilst on stage, but going the extra mile like this proves that they’re not only multi-talented, but they’ve also got hearts of gold.
PRETTYMUCH definitely have what it takes to become the next big boyband on the block, and their quest for music domination continues with the FOMO tour across North America this summer. After such an incredible showcase in London, we can only hope that the FOMO tour will also make its way to the UK in the near future.
There’s no doubt that the future is looking bright for Brandon, Edwin, Austin, Nick and Zion and we cannot wait to see what’s next for them.
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