Blood Orange at The Anthem
Go To This Because We Asked So Nicely – A Concert Preview
By Maddie Hongmanivanh
Essex Honey – Blood Orange
People attend concerts for different reasons. The unspoken reason, I believe, is the sense of community they create. Humans rely on group identity, and concerts do an amazing job of fulfilling that need. How amazing is it to bring yourself somewhere where so many people are sharing the same live experience?
If you enjoy feeling the same emotional connection that I do at concerts, then I recommend seeing Blood Orange live. Dev Hynes, the mind behind Blood Orange, is on tour for his new album Essex Honey, his first album in six years.
The record surfaced from the tragedy of Hynes’ mother’s passing in 2023. Through each heartfelt track, Hynes returns to his hometown of Essex as a bittersweet reminder of his roots, loved ones, and the trauma that ties to that. People describe the sound of this album as “pure honey” and “alien magic.” With features like Caroline Polachek, Turnstile and Daniel Caesar, this album is truly a listening experience you want to be part of.
With that in mind, Dev Hynes and the Blood Orange touring band present Essex Honey live across Europe and America, working their “alien magic” on stage with large crowds, leaning in to listen.
Even before knowing anything about the weight this album means to Hynes, I knew this tour was something I could not miss for myself. The arrangements on this album feel like a dream on loop with layered vocals and floating cello lines that fade into flickering 808s. It is addictively smooth, and really lives up to the latter part of the album title.
What separates this show from many others is the experience of watching these sounds and visuals being produced in real time. You get to hear Dev Hynes’ beautiful works reimagined for a live audience, discovering sounds you did not know were possible while taking it all in before you.
The 5 W’s (And a few H’s)
Who: Blood Orange
What: Alternative R&B, Synthpop, Indie, New Wave
When: The Anthem, Washington D.C., 901 Wharf Street SW, Washington, DC 20024
Where: Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Doors: 6:30PM, Show 8:00PM
Why: For a spiritual awakening
How might you know them?: The resurgence of his 2011 song, “Champagne Coast,” and his song “You’re Not Good Enough” featured in the movie To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before
How to go: General Admission tickets start at $62.25 on Ticketmaster.
