The Grammy Award-winning duo NxWorries—Anderson .Paak and Knxlwedge—kicked off their first-ever North American tour with a sold-out show in Portland, Ore., earlier this month. Opened by rising contemporary R&B act Rae Khalil, the trio of artists brought musicality and swagger to McMenamins Crystal Ballroom in the city’s Pearl District.
Walking up the sidewalk, a crowd formed a jumbled line awaiting entrance into the venue for the concert. Couples united by hand could not be separated by excited friend groups shuffling for their IDs and virtual tickets at the door. Conversations outside reflected the anticipation for NxWorries to arrive.
“Will they have special guests? Will it start on time? Will they do ‘Suede’? Is there custom Portland merch?” were all the questions thrown out in exchanges that echoed through the perfectly warm, late summer night as staff slowly trickled the crowd inside.
Indoors, over one thousand guests made their way into the dimly lit stagefront for the musical showcase. Long, yet quick-paced lines stacked up at multiple bars and bathrooms, as fans prepared to enjoy the headlining act comfortably. The merchandise booth also buzzed with shoppers, purchasing everything from T-shirts and hoodies to vinyl records, including an Anderson .Paak Tiny Desk Concert pressing.
After a sound, soothing opening from Rae Khalil, the energy shifted to welcome NxWorries, and from there the night entered true-fan territory. The entire evening brought solace to listeners who had been awaiting the moment since the group’s symbiotic musical chemistry united them on their Soundcloud debut 10 years ago.
The PDX audience witnessed NxWorries perform tracks from their 2015 EP Link Up & Suede, 2016 album Yes Lawd!, and the 2024 Grammy-winning release Why Lawd?
With endless cheers and joyful applause, the crowd was fully immersed in the moment. Both levels of the audience danced, swayed, and toasted to their favorite group, satisfied with the contemporary group’s North American tour debut.
Read below for highlights from NxWorries’ opening show on the Why Lawd? Tour below.
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An “86Sentra” Opening
Image Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images The headliners opened with “86Sentra” a fan-favorite record from the Why Lawd ? album and set the tone for the evening. Everyone in attendance rapped word for word with Anderson .Paak, as Knxwledge held down the control booth as “the man upstairs,” as his partner declared on stage. The full setlist brought live versions of tracks from the aforementioned album as well as its predecessor, Yes Lawd!, including “Link Up,” “KeepHer,” “Suede,” Droogs,” and more.
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Including The Audience In The Act
Image Credit: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images At the Why Lawd? tour, fans are fully included in the experience. Even from the deep end of the mezzanine, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers, NxWorries was able to curate an intimate vibe. During the show Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge welcomed all in attendance to sing along and spoke directly to the relatability of their vulnerable collaborations. The interactive experience also featured the 39-year-old handing out roses and making space for excited fans to join the duo on stage for a dance break.
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Rae Khalil’s Return To The Stage
Image Credit: Erika Goldring/Getty Images for Expedia Although Rae Khalil opened the show, she was welcomed back by NxWorries to perform their “OutTheWay” collaboration featured on Why Lawd? The audience cheered as Anderson .Paak made space for the rising singer to perform for the audience who might not have caught her earlier. The duo made sure to uplift Rae Khalil in the moment, a sweet touch that only emphasized the respect they have for her talent.
Knxwledge and Anderson .Paak also made sure to celebrate themselves, with the latter bringing his “brother” from the booth and on stage as the show closed. Together, both men stood proud as the claps and cheers rang from every corner of the venue. With smiles and waves, NxWorries exited on “Daydreaming” prepared to conquer the rest of the tour.
View the rest of the Why Lawd? Tour dates below.
09-20 Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
09-21 Toronto, Ontario – History
09-23 Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall
09-24 Boston, MA – Citizens House of Blues Boston
09-26 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
09-27 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
09-28 Raleigh, NC – The Ritz
09-30 Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
10-02 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
10-06 New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore New Orleans
10-08 Austin, TX – Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
10-09 Houston, TX – House of Blues Houston
10-12 San Francisco, CA – The Masonic
10-15 Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues Las Vegas
10-16 San Diego, CA – SOMA
10-17 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
10-19 Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium
