Liz Baummer Pink Sweat$ took the stage at The Anthem on February 13, 2025, in Washington D.C. With Aqyila taking the stage to begin, the audience left wanting more.
The Energy
This show was the tale of two environments that could not be more different:
On one hand it was bitterly cold outside. It’s the type of windy that makes you realize you’ve been unknowingly walking in a diagonal line your entire walk. Of course, that doesn’t stop the pre-Valentine’s Day crowd from taking advantage of The Wharf in DC, with all the high-end restaurants lining the water. Admittedly, when The Anthem comes into view up ahead, the relief was palpable as I began to regret not putting on my winter gloves (the same mistake I ironically wrote about in my last concert review… you’d think I would have learned that lesson the first time).
On the other hand, the inside of The Anthem was warm and cozy in a way that is hard to describe. It is kind of like sitting on the couch in front of a roaring fireplace, cozied up underneath the fluffiest blanket with your partner. The lights are dim, but the ones that are on are warm and inviting. The Anthem was filled with rows of seats that added to the feeling that you’re cozied up in the living room.
Aqyila
The absolutely stellar opener, Aqyila, was the perfect accompaniment to Pink Sweat$. Her music matched the warm, welcoming vibe that set throughout the venue. Her set also featured some incredible lighting (which made my job so easy and extra fun!).
It is clear she has a big and committed fanbase! She performed many songs including her newest single called “Focus” which released less than 3 weeks before the show. The fans knew Every! Single! Word! In my mind, that really highlights how dedicated her fanbase is to her music. I look forward to seeing where her career is going to go next. With great music and a large, dedicated fan base across many platforms (including TikTok), there is no doubt she’s going to continue to rise to fame! I’m sure in no time she’ll be back in DC as a headliner one day, and I will 100% be there!
Photos by Liz Baummer. Copyright © 2024 Liz Baummer ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Pink Sweat$
The feeling was also definitely amplified by the fact that it was the day before Valentine’s Day. I would bet that AT LEAST 50 percent of the crowd were couples. And Pink Sweat$ was a great choice for a Valentine’s Day celebration. The music was the perfect soundtrack for swaying together and singing along. Pink Sweat$ clearly recognizes it and loves it too! There is a show tradition where he signals out one couple and has them dance together while everyone else in the crowd shines their phone flashlights on them. Talk about magical!!! I’ve never seen anything like it, and it has certainly become one of my favorite moments I have photographed!
Fun Fact: Pink Sweat$’s birthday is Valentine’s Day and you can really feel the love that he has for that day. Together as his birthday but also as a day to celebrate love! Plus there were lots of shouts of “Happy Birthday!” throughout the show from the crowd!
Another thing that stands out about Pink Sweat$ was the ease at which he navigated the stage. You can just tell that he is a natural up there, and he is meant to be. I really loved the banter between songs where he interacted with the crowd and spoke about the show. The way the show flowed felt very flexible, and it very much felt like the show wasn’t sticking to the rigidity of a setlist. And don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with sticking to a setlist! But I want to highlight that this felt like a deviation from a lot of the other shows I have seen with more flexibility for Pink Sweat$ to manipulate the show as he pleased. It was really cool to experience!
Photos by Liz Baummer. Copyright © 2025 Liz Baummer ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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