Everyone’s an Idol: Yungblud at the Theater of the Clouds

Words & photos by Paige Fulkerson

While on his IDOLS World Tour, Yungblud was welcomed to Portland, Oregon, with a sold-out show at the Theater of the Clouds. Fans waited across the barricade for the 28-year-old British punk artist, holding signs asking for hugs, blown kisses and even to come up on stage. Queue Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs / Luke’s Wall” from their 1970 album as the lights dimmed and smoke flooded the stage. Yungblud came onto the stage wearing a cheetah print vest, black sunglasses and leather chaps with crosses down the legs. Within the first minute of him being on stage, confetti cannons were blown and his vest was no longer, sporting a Iggy-Pop-like shirtless stage vibe. Halfway through his nine-minute opening song of “Hello Heaven, Hello”, he proceeded to pour beer over his head as well as the audience—those who were graced with his beer spillage and cup were overjoyed. 

Dominic Harrison goes by the stage name of Yungblud and has always been one to interact intensely with his fans throughout his entire career. Many artists lean back on this once they reach stadium audiences, but Dom did not. He managed to connect with as many fans as he could, reading each and every sign, walking along the barricade and performing while the crowd held him up.

Whether you’re in elementary school or a world-class milf, Yungblud concerts are for anyone and everyone in between who can connect to his music. A sign in the crowd read, “Milfs for Yungblud!” and Dom blew the “milfs” kisses. 

As powerful as Yungblud’s stage presence is, he demands the crowd to match his energy, pointing out people in the 100s and 200s to get out of their seats and dance. He even targeted many people in the crowd that he deemed too serious and made them stick out their tongues for the arena to see.

Post smoking a cigarette on stage while pyrotechnics went off behind him, he grabbed his fifth cup of beer and took a sip before pouring it out onto the stage and kissing the sky, dedicating his next song, a cover of Black Sabbath’s “Changes,” to Ozzy Osbourne himself, who passed away only 10 months ago of cardiac arrest. 

Yungblud is the punk icon of our generation and his live performances prove that. His wide age range of fans is impressive and his dedication to them is unmatched.