Their lyrics of perseverance and vulnerability resonate with the crowd, who sang plenty of lyrics along with the men clad in black. The magic in a Rufus set, perhaps, lies in their ability to bring humanity into an otherwise synthetic soundscape. The stage design's ultra-minimal punch, haunted in its dynamic, shape-shifting physical space, was matched by the band's wave summoning performance. Three elevated platforms on which each member stood, three back dropping LED screens, and a rectangular tilting overhead lighting rig that added a layer of looming pressure - so prevalent in their music - comprised a production that felt custom built for 713 Music Hall. Their stage production filled out the stage nearly to its brim. Anthemic Surrender tracks like “Alive,” “On My Knees,” and “Make It Happen” filled 713’s cavernous ceilings through the venue’s assaulting sound system. It's their fresh material off this year’s Surrender, though, that displays a creative rejuvenation steeped in dense soundscapes built on solid, intimate songwriting.
Photo by Violeta Alvarez Rufus’ current outing, a mix of festivals and solo headlining dates, spans their discography thus far. That Houston stop in early 2020 likely would have been memorable, but last night's set list wouldn’t have been possible had the band not been forced into a Joshua Tree based lockdown to write the bread and butter of last nights tour de force in support of their new album Surrender. Near the end of their two hour set, lead singer Tyrone Lindqvist lined an apology for last year's cancelled concert with optimism and redemption, saying, to a sea of approval: "We're here now and we get to share tonight together and it's been an amazing night."
Though Willie Nelson’s now rescheduled concert, originally slated for Wednesday night, would have been a fair grand opening suited for any new Texas concert hall, Rufus’ commanding set was the perfect fit for a warehouse that once housed a storied festival that catered to the same audience gathered in the room last night to see the trio from down under. Rich in identity and character, it's the kind of venue that bears potential to become a destination for crowds to attend and artists to grace for years to come. The newly transformed Barbara Jordan Post Office, and former grounds of Houston's defunct Day for Night festival, claimed a newfound glory in its 5,000 capacity downtown venue.
Last night, Australian electronic force Rufus Du Sol christened Houston’s newest concert venue 713 Music Hall at POST Houston. Its hard to know whose star shined brightest last night: the crowd, the artist, or the venue.
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