By Macy Zenier
Renee Rapp’s Snow Hard Feelings tour was nothing short of extraordinary. From the openers to her stunning finale of her smash hit “Snow Angel,” the audience was enthralled the entire time. The first opener, Towa Bird, had the audience in love with her from the moment she stepped out on stage. Towa is a contemporary musician and guitarist known for her powerful and innovative guitar solos. Her distinctive style incorporates a dynamic fusion of techniques, including furious hammer-ons. Towa’s music and guitar skills have gained recognition and anticipation in the music industry. She is currently working on her debut album, with a strong focus on crafting songs that are designed to shine during live performances, promising an exciting future for this enigmatic artist.
Towa’s fascination with guitar music traces back to her formative years, a period divided between London, Thailand, and Hong Kong. Her musical influences were a dynamic blend of her father’s inclination towards rock legends like Jimmy Page, The Who, and Prince, and her older sister’s affinity for the angsty rhythms of bands from the early 2000s, such as My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy.
A mere glance at the music video for Towa’s first single, “Wild Heart,” immediately reveals the unmistakable influence of Jimi Hendrix permeating her performance. In the midst of a dazzling guitar solo, she’s captured igniting a frenzy from atop a bar, adorned in a glittering flared jumpsuit, skillfully shredding on a gray and green Gibson Firebird, and adopting iconic postures reminiscent of Hendrix’s legendary rock stage presence. Towa Bird has accumulated almost a million followers on TikTok, as well as appearing in the Olivia Rodrigo: Driving Home 2 U documentary, in which she appears for a performance of “Brutal“. Their performance was fun and lively, and captivated the audience. By the time she left, the crowd was dancing, and energy was high for the artists to come.
Next on stage was one of Renee’s producers and friends, Alexander 23. Alex is an accomplished American singer-songwriter and record producer. His journey in the music industry took flight with the release of his initial string of singles and EP back in 2019. Since then, he has collaborated with a roster of esteemed artists, including Olivia Rodrigo, John Mayer, Selena Gomez, Tate McRae, Charlie Puth, Noah Kahan, Role Model, Jeremy Zucker, Kenny Beats, David Kushner, Glaive, Laufey, and of course, Renee Rapp. Alex has accumulated an impressive number of Spotify streams, totaling hundreds of millions, for his own musical creations, before deciding to tour with Renee.
Renee Rapp’s album producer showcased his own remarkable singer-songwriter skills, featuring impressive falsettos and what seemed like the electrifying energy of pop-punk drum beats. Hailing from Chicago, this artist exhibited an engaging bond with the audience, infusing playfulness into interactions with fellow bandmates during the performance. He stirred the crowd’s spirits as they joined in for a rendition of One Direction’s “Steal My Girl” and even stayed after his performance to meet and take pictures with fans. Alexander brought his set to a close with a mesmerizing rendition of “IDK You Yet,” culminating in an extended jam session that left him seemingly reluctant to depart from the stage.
The stage then underwent a transformation, adorned with abundant floral arrangements and a sizeable LED screen that would later illuminate with nostalgic images of Reneé Rapp during her youth. As she took the stage, accompanied by a full band, the performance commenced with the lively “Talk Too Much.” Throughout the set, Reneé radiated joy, wearing a constant smile, and engaging in heartwarming conversations with the crowd and even the security team, expressing her deep gratitude for their presence.
In a poignant moment, Renee read some flirty signs from girls in the audience, further resonating with the spirited and enthusiastic audience, which harmoniously sang along during “Pretty Girls.” The enchanting Towa Bird rejoined Reneé on stage for a captivating guitar performance on “Tummy Hurts,” maintaining a close connection throughout. Prior to an emotional rendition of “Too Well,” Reneé involved a fan in the introduction, sharing her need for excitement in performing the song. Her live interpretation of the track provided a brief respite from the intense emotional delivery she had maintained throughout the set.
The performance was skillfully divided into seasonal segments, concluding with the wintry theme and leading into an encore featuring “Snow Angel,” during which she stood elevated on a platform, bedecked in all white with angelic wings displayed on the screen. Notably, several fans sported light-up halos, enhancing the thematic ambiance. Reneé Rapp’s inaugural tour proved to be a night of electrifying performances, marked by her genuine connection with the audience, leaving an indelible impression on her fans and the Pittsburgh locals.
