Known for their experimental styles of combining rock with hip-hop/rap, duo Paris Texas stormed the stage of Songbyrd in Washington, D.C. with one intention: to put on a show like no other. Louie Pastel and Felix released their long-awaited studio debut album Mid Air on July 21, 2023, and the two went on tour shortly after to perform their new tracks. Mid Air was the transcendent collection that went above audience expectations: each song met in the intersection of rock and rap, all while bringing in aspects of indie and hip-hop that were meant to be heard live.
The set kicked off with smoke and flashing lights as the duo made their way on stage. Looking out into the audience, the band started with “tenTHIRTYseven,” the opening song on Mid Air. They rolled into “Split-Screen” after, the crowd jumping and singing along. All the while, Pastel and Felix danced around with each other on stage, the lights continuing to switch from bright white to dark black, with colorful splashes of red and green lights in between.
Paris Texas stepped away from the tracks off their new album to play older songs toward the middle of the set. “cyannide” and “girls like drugs” were released in 2021-2022, and they immediately got the crowd singing along. Louie Pastel, with his shirt off and bandage over his nose, directed the moshing crowd through the song as he and Felix encouraged the upbeat, lively energy.
From their self-produced album BOY ANONYMOUS, Paris Texas played “CASINO” and “FORCE OF HABIT,” both tracks a detour from the songs from Mid Air that played just before. The stage lights overhead continued to flash to the bass beat of both songs, amplifying the energy from both the duo and the audience from energetic to complete chaos.
With a career as innovative as theirs, Paris Texas has more than a full set of options when it comes to creating a setlist. Yet, the duo was able to smartly capture each era of their music, songs that got them started in the first place, the catchy pieces built during the pandemic, and the ultimate ending of the new tracks showcasing where they are now.