A year plagued with several controversies for the Sonic artist resulted in a flawed headline show that could have certainly offered more.

As usual, the first day of October 2023 saw sonic artist and performer Olawale Ashimi Ọlọ́fọọ̀rọ̀, popularly known as Brymo, headline a concert that he tagged “order”, a usual Independence Day ritual for those who are familiar with the singer-songwriter.

“Order”, which was organized under that name for the second time on October 1st, 2023, was formerly known as “organized chaos,” a headline concert by the ace singer, songwriter, and performer, which has become a highly anticipated event, attracting a diverse audience of music lovers and fans of Brymo’s unique style. It was originally launched in 2016 and has gradually garnered momentum and progress since then. With each edition, Brymo pushes boundaries and delivers an unforgettable experience that showcases his artistic growth and evolution.

With 2022 being a good year for Brymo, including taking his ministry to his cult-following in places like Abeokuta, Ibadan, Abuja, and the United Kingdom, the son of a carpenter rounded up the year with a first ‘order’ which is arguably still his biggest headline concert till date.

The 2023 edition was held at Landmark Beach and, as usual, gave the fans a thrilling musical concert experience that continued to solidify the bold statement that the sonic artist is one of the greatest performers on the continent. However, as interesting as that is, the concert was filled with noticeable flaws that made it a letdown. Here is a review of Brymo’s 2023 ‘Order’ concert. 

Branding and Partnership

For an artist on Brymo’s level, especially having scored a significant screamer at his previous edition, the succeeding edition saw little or no branding or partnership, which was a major face-staring flaw for an artist who accords himself as the “most powerful artist in the world”. This lack of branding not only caused inconvenience for the fans but also reflected poorly on the artist’s reputation. The absence of any form of signage (not even a backdrop) or clear indication of the venue left attendees feeling frustrated. A good number of fans ignorantly walked past the venue, only to later retrace their steps back to the venue after being lost.

Additionally, the stage was nothing close to the previous edition, as Brymo was made to perform on a confined stage, which was a bridge built over a pool. The lacklustre stage setup not only affected the overall atmosphere of the concert but also hindered Brymo’s ability to fully engage with his audience.

The confined space and inadequate lighting took away from the immersive experience that the fans could have enjoyed in a concert. The whole setting made it look more like a usual “weekend live band” or “listening party” scenario instead of a proper headline concert, which Brymo’s ‘order’ has been previously known for. A complete disappointment.

Participation

Despite the lack of sponsors or partnerships, the singer’s undeniable talent and magnetic stage presence continued to captivate his dedicated fanbase, which remained loyal through both turbulent and tranquil times. Nevertheless, there was a noticeable decline in attendance, forcing the singer to opt for a small and porous venue. The braggadocious Brymo, whose social media engagements have consistently wrapped him in controversies, “disbanded” a committed section of his fans known as “sigmas” sometime in July, and that decision amidst other controversies might have resulted in the low turn-out, making him record his lowest number of attendees for his annual headline concert in three years.

Hopefully a humbling moment for the sonic artist whose annual headline concert, which was already boasting of about 1,500 fans, was taken aback by a turnout as low as 400 people.

Performances

As usual and expected, a Brymo concert is always a soul-stirring musical experience that will keep the fans screaming for “more music” and easily give the fans a worth for their money. The 2023 edition saw a handful of performances from other fantastic performers. Tik-Tok trending star Dotti the Deity was a major highlight of the night, with an impressive performance capped with his viral tune Forever Sweet.

Brymo, being one of Africa’s finest stage performers, thrilled the fans with two hours of non-stop music! Although core fans would have deduced that the band (which again was a “new band”) was very bland and for most of the time winged it out throughout the performance, digging a noticeable hole in the whole set, Some fans didn’t get the mind-blowing musical instrumentation and composition they were used to and looked forward to.

Brymo’s songs are usually laced with instrumental interludes, which soak listeners in the beauty of the singer’s art, especially when rendered live. A quick listen to Brymo’s Live! at TerraKulture Arena live album will give context. Unfortunately, that sonic pleasure was missing from the band (which could have been mostly because they were “new”), and for most of the nights, fans had to mime the expected instrumental interludes by themselves. This lack of instrumental accompaniment dampened the overall experience for some fans, who were eagerly anticipating a full immersion into Brymo’s musical world.

Despite the band’s performance, Brymo’s exceptional stage presence and captivating vocals shone through. Showcasing his unique blend of soulful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics, Brymo effortlessly transported the audience into a world of extraordinary musical experiences. Even though he performed for two hours, the fans wanted “more music!”

A subtle display of his enigmatic craftsmanship was when he performed his song Mirage, which was originally written and recorded in English, in Pidgin—a maestro!

Punctuality

Having backslided from being a prompt artiste to a latecomer courtesy of two previous occasions where he showed up late (‘Blasphemy’ on June 25th, 2022, at Terra Kulture, and ‘Order’ on October 1st, 2022, at Landmark Beach), the singer relatively didn’t keep to time again, as a show that was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. didn’t see the headliner climb the stage until several minutes after 11 p.m., rounding up the show at almost 1:30 a.m. the following day.

Conclusion

A Brymo show is always the show to be, and as earlier mentioned, the Sonic Act gave the fans the time of their lives. However, away from performances, the event was generally a disappointment, as it greatly lacked qualities for it to be considered a “concert” not to mention a “successful concert”. For an artiste who has profusely built his brand over the years, with a niche for setting standards, it was obvious that there was a problem with the artiste’s image for the year 2023, and that birthed a subpar headline concert.

It is crucial for Brymo to reflect on this disappointing event and identify the areas that need improvement. Taking the necessary steps to rectify his image and deliver a remarkable concert in the future will be essential for maintaining his reputation as a top-notch artiste. 

Actions will always have consequences, and we hope Brymo goes back to the drawing board to make proper amends.

Punctuality

Having backslided from being a prompt artiste to a latecomer courtesy of two previous occasions where he showed up late (‘Blasphemy’ on June 25th, 2022, at Terra Kulture, and ‘Order’ on October 1st, 2022, at Landmark Beach), the singer relatively didn’t keep to time again, as a show that was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. didn’t see the headliner climb the stage until several minutes after 11 p.m., rounding up the show at almost 1:30 a.m. the following day.

Conclusion

A Brymo show is always the show to be, and as earlier mentioned, the Sonic Act gave the fans the time of their lives. However, away from performances, the event was generally a disappointment, as it greatly lacked qualities for it to be considered a “concert” not to mention a “successful concert”. For an artiste who has profusely built his brand over the years, with a niche for setting standards, it was obvious that there was a problem with the artiste’s image for the year 2023, and that birthed a subpar headline concert.

It is crucial for Brymo to reflect on this disappointing event and identify the areas that need improvement. Taking the necessary steps to rectify his image and deliver a remarkable concert in the future will be essential for maintaining his reputation as a top-notch artiste. 

Actions will always have consequences, and we hope Brymo goes back to the drawing board to make proper amends.

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