FearDorian at Black Cat

By London Massey

Photo by London Massey

Atlanta-based producer and rapper FearDorian graced Black Cat’s stage on May 21, going at the audience full force with their dynamic sound all throughout the show. Opening for English Rock band Squid, their time in D.C. was the 16th performance on their “Cowards” North American tour, filling venues with audiences of all ages to share their artistry with along the way.

I was lucky enough to interview Dorian before the concert and was able to find a place closer to the front of the stage having been in the venue already. Almost any spot in the Black Cat has a great view due to the small capacity and intimate space of the scene, but being near the lively stage and feeling the buzzing energy of the crowd amped up my already-built anticipation for the show.

FearDorian hit the stage exactly at 8:00pm, beginning the show with “In Turn For?,” the first song from their most recent album, Leaving Home. The track, bundled with melodic backing vocals and contrasting instrumentals, served as the foundation for the night’s energetic performance. The crowd bopped their heads along to the beat, some evidently being familiar with Dorian’s music and others interacting with their sound for the first time as it goes with being a band’s opener. Their enthusiasm for being on stage was magnetic as they shuffled along the stage, being driven by the rhythm.

Fans standing front-row knew every word to songs, grooving along specifically to the ambient sound of “IV.” Taking notice from stage, Dorian gestured directly to them, hyping up the listeners and consequently the energy in the familiarity of the small space.

As FearDorian announced two songs were left on their setlist, people in the audience requested “Aspen,” which is also from their most recent project. Though the song was not planned on being performed, Dorian swiftly accepted and began. D.J. Ethan Wendt queued up the song without skipping a beat and the crowd cheered as FearDorian’s voice dominated the hi-hat heavy intro of the song, lyrics reflecting the fast-paced life of an artist. This fan interaction was a highlight of the night and showcased the connection they have with their audience. They followed it up with the final two songs on the original setlist, ending with “Shame On You.” Dorian asked the crowd to turn on their phone flashlights for the last track, with the inside of the Black Cat glowing a white light as they spit the last few verses of the night.

Performing lyrics that were initially punched in during the recording process, FearDorian delivered an effortless flow to the audience throughout the entire set, yet kept the energy high to build excitement for the headlining act. Other highlights of the night include hearing “Forecasting” and “Run Dry,” both some of my personal favorites in their discography.  

At the end of the night, FearDorian posted up at their merch table, taking time to meet fans and answer questions. On-site, they had two exclusive tour shirts for sale, along with Leaving Home vinyls and CDs.

As mentioned earlier, I was fortunate enough to interview Dorian earlier that day, picking their brain on their musical journey while following them around the Black Cat before they hit the stage. Watch the interview here and be sure to keep up with them ahead of their album release on June 13, 2025.

Find FearDorian on all streaming platforms and follow them on instagram @feardorian

Setlist:

In Turn For?

Every Time

IV

Forecasting

Pray 4 The People

Backbone

Fooling

What Happened

Raining In Brooklyn

Run Dry

ASPEN

Acrid Taste

Shame On You