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Apocalypse, Wow: Cigarettes After Sex Light up Saint Paul

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich

Last updated on November 12th, 2024 at 06:44 am

Rising indie band Cigarettes After Sex once again proved “less is more” to a near-capacity crowd at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Despite playing a stadium-level show, the band kept their patented minimalist style while enthralling a largely younger audience.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

The past few years have seen the band rise from word-of-mouth obscurity, to darlings of Gen Z social media, to a global stadium draw. Even last year’s Minnesota show at The Palace was moved to The Armory due to ticket demand. Bolstered by the airplay from their new album X, Cigarettes After Sex is hitting new peaks in popularity.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

The band’s personality, led by frontman Greg Gonzalez, certainly adds to their attraction. Typically seen in sunglasses and almost exclusively in all black, he projects a tender lovingness. Prior to the tour, he commented on social media of “crying through his sunglasses” in appreciation over the new album’s release.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

Joined by bandmates Randy Miller (bass) and Jacob Tomsky (drums), Gonzalez took the stage in all its minimalist glory, with drums on one side, bass on other. A large screen in the center well and two small side screens projected clips and live video in black and white. All lights were white; no pyro, no colors. Even the crowd predominately donned monochromatic attire.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

The band opened with a balanced mix of songs, like new tracks “X’s” and “Dark Vacay” along with their popular “You’re All I Want.” After the opening, Gonzalez thanked the crowd for joining them that night. And throughout the evening, when he addressed the crowd at all, he added little else outside of basic appreciation.

In the silence between songs, sporadic cheers were heard, along with the occasional “I LOVE YOU!”

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

About midway through the set, the show’s pace picked up. “Tejano Blue,” the first song to pay homage to Gonzalez’s Texas upbringing, was sung emphatically through its chorus. “John Wayne” caused the arena to be filled with smartphone lights. And as a delightful treat, they played “Baby Blue Movie,” one of their more up-tempo songs that has been played only sporadically on the current tour.

And while Gonzalez ventured from side to side on the stage, even out onto the small “thrust stage”, he moved slowly, just like his typical slow sway seen during guitar breaks. No wild gestures, not even engaging his bandmates…just his chill demeanor carrying into his motions.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

As the set began to wind down, the band’s more popular songs brought increased screams of joy from the crowd, including “Heavenly,” “K,” and “Cry.” The screens projected melancholy images, like lightning in clouds, dimly lit falling snowflakes, a burning flower.

“Sweet” was accompanied by an escalation in audible singing and audience members rising from their seats, while Gonzalez sang entirely from the front of the thrust stage. He even gave a smile during guitar breaks. Speaking of guitar, the more electric playing of “Dreaming of You” was perfectly placed before the closing song of the set.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

That finale was, perhaps predictably, “Apocalypse,” their runaway most-streamed song on Spotify, and one captioned on a mural at Bina’s in Northeast Minneapolis. The majority of the crowd rose to their feet, many with smartphones fixed on RECORD. Some younger fans snapped clips of them singing along. And everyone was treated to the only props used during the set: two spinning mirror balls setting the audience aglow.

Cigarettes After Sex Concert, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Photo by James Perovich.

And that’s really all Cigarettes After Sex needed for this show. Gonzalez’s voice, his straightforward lyrics on love, sex, desire, and the ambient bass and drums all do the rest. And it’s a formula the band has stuck to during its rise to recognition and acclaim.

After closing with the encore “Opera House” and thanking everyone once again, the band gave away setlists, drumsticks, and guitar picks to ecstatic fans in the pit, and bowed in gratitude before departing. Through the “Apocalypse,” this band’s stardom is far from over.

Written by James Perovich

Believer in natural light, minimal conceptualization, and perfect timing.

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