Absence may make the heart grow fonder, but in Jon Bellion’s case, it also sells out the Hollywood Bowl. A rare show I know I couldn’t miss and one I truly have not stopped thinking about since.
Even if you’re not familiar with Jon’s own music, you’ve almost certainly heard his work (Eminem, Rihanna, Halsey, Shakira, Justin Bieber). He has written and produced songs for an impressive roster of some of the biggest artists in the world. This past Thursday earned another title as being the only non-touring artist to sell out almost 18,000 seats at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. But if you were lucky enough to snag a ticket, you know just how rare a treat it was to see the mastermind behind the music grab the mic and step out into the spotlight himself.
If you would’ve been around me in 2014, and I was in charge of the aux cord, there would be no chance you’d escape hearing Jon Bellion at some point. I practically burned a hole through his mixtape The Definition, which quickly introduced me to my admiration for his philosophy of having, and appreciating, a ‘beautiful mind’ as a creative artist. I related heavily to his experience of navigating an industry that didn’t come with a rulebook and refusing to conform to the expectations and norms that come with it. Coming to Los Angeles as a young dancer who got catapulted into the public eye in the early stages of social media, Jon Bellion became an example to me of someone who can fiercely honor their craft without falling victim to selling their soul in the process and find success without ever losing sight of what actually matters.
Jon’s discography steps you through the vulnerable journey of his human experience in its many phases with his latest and long-awaited album Father Figure giving listeners an introspective lens into his most personal chapter yet: family and fatherhood.
As we settled into our seats I couldn’t help but notice that every other person was already wearing or holding the show’s exclusive merch, which set the tone early that this show was one you’d want tangible proof you were a part of, and it was clear no one was leaving without a receipt.
Walking out to a roaring standing ovation directly to his beat pad, Bellion, along with his band, kicked off the first act with high-energy tracks like “Father Figure,” “Oblivious” and “Modern Times.” It was particularly satisfying hearing the venue scream back his lyric “you look so sick inside your big Ferrari.” It’s hard not to appreciate the irony of a sold-out crowd dancing along to an artist who has built such a successful career yet has never had interest in selling us on the superficial fantasy that fame is the end goal.
What made the night even more special was getting the chance to hear some fan favorites reimagined in an orchestral arrangement accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra conducted by Charlie Rosen. This had me reminiscing on watching Jon’s stripped-down virtual concert Live at Cove City in the thick of the COVID-era which left me in awe. It was like watching musical mastery in motion as he conducted and arranged, building and layering his songs in real time. Act two brought that same magic to the Bowl, breathing new life into songs like “Blu” and a heartfelt “Stupid Deep” which Jon carried out into the crowd as the orchestral strings amplified every bit of the raw vulnerability behind it.
Some of the night’s most beautiful moments came from hearing the songs dedicated to his wife and children. “Conversations with my Wife” and “Why” turned such a massive venue into a surprisingly intimate space, getting a glimpse at home videos that played on the big screens and hearing the giggles of his sons. The entire audience joined in to sing along to a cover of “Wonderwall” by Oasis, his wedding song. It was undeniable that his love for his family was the heart of the entire evening.
A silence fell over the crowd as Jon knelt down, fighting back tears making his way through the powerful a cappella outro of “My Boy.” He paused before he spoke the words “a present father is worth way more than a perfect dad” which made it clear that this chapter for Jon is his most important yet, one that he will not miss for the world even if that warrants stepping away from the spotlight from time to time.
The crowd was electric when he dipped into throwbacks like “Luxury,” “80’s Film” and “Guillotine”… songs that I’ve personally waited nearly a decade to finally get to experience live. The surprises continued with an appearance from Anderson .Paak who joined Jon on the drums to .Paak’s hit “Come Down,” and notably dropping the first subtle hint that new music is on the horizon.
I found myself doing a full 360 just to take in the energy that surrounded us during the encore of “Jim Morrison” which had every single person with both hands up rocking out in unison. Coming from one of his earliest mixtapes, the song felt like such a perfect embodiment of an artist who knew exactly who he was from the start. It was the type of collective joy that leaves you riding a high long after the show is over. In this day and age, it feels equally rare as it is special to be part of a crowd so present and engaged, which is only a testament to the connection Jon has so brilliantly cultivated with his fans.
In “Let’s Begin” he says, “you get too famous, then everything in your life is stressful, there’s a big difference between being known and being successful.” Jon’s talent has earned him the luxury to decide when the spotlight finds him on his own terms, and if this show proved anything, it’s that I will be there anytime it does.
