The Texas soul vibe at The Kessler Theater on Saturday moved like a slow-burning groove that kept finding new momentum. What began as a quietly confident indie set and a jazz-tinged rap session, swelled into a full-on dance floor takeover before Dezi 5 closed the night with a master class in showmanship.
Luke Herbert opened the evening with effects-drenched vocals and synth-heavy arrangements. With a drummer onstage and backing tracks filling the gaps, Herbert’s set had a modern, dreamy sheen — the sort of indie-pop that threads into a room and settles in, setting a tasteful mood for what came next.
Pierce Washington followed with a conscious-rap set backed by a killer young band. The rhythm section was a highlight: a drummer who was super tight, a bass line that locked into a funky pocket, and nimble keys that added a thoughtful layer to the songs. Washington leaned into audience energy early — “We’re gonna get to the roots of what a rap show should be,” he said — and actively pulled the room in, asking everyone to snap on-beat and later sharing an unreleased throwback song he’d written nearly a decade ago
When Dana Harper took the stage the energy shifted palpably. People who’d been seated began tiptoeing to the floor during the first song; by the second it was half full, and by the third the dance floor was a sea of bodies grooving. Harper’s set—equal parts soul, funk, and R&B—felt warm and lively, reflective of the singer’s personality.
Finally, the star of the show Dezi stormed onto stage with commanding energy: “Welcome to the Dezi 5 Experience.”
Dressed in a bedazzled tiger-print vest, leather chaps, a Texas-sized belt buckle, a bolo tie and a straw cowboy hat, he moved between theatricality and raw confession with ease. Backed by We Them Grays, his band elevated his set to new heights—effectively delivering perhaps the best performance this writer has ever seen from him.
The Midnight Troubadour
Tough and timeless, this polo is built for the long ride. Featuring a crisp, non-collapsing collar and a rugged, stretchy fabric, it's the perfect shirt for any cowboy's wardrobe.
Musically and theatrically, Dezi’s set was a lesson in pacing and presence. He alternated slow, soulful stretches with full-band abandon, calibrated the crowd’s response with stage banter and vulnerable confessions, and left the Kessler buzzing with the anthemic “Paint the Town”—before closing out with a cover of “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins.
The celebration included the release of his new 11-track LP vinyl record, DIRTY LAUNDRY: UNFOLDED, marking a major milestone for the sensation known as Dezi 5.
For a scene that thrives on collaboration, this bill felt thoughtfully stacked: a newcomer rising, a lyricist sharpening his craft, a soulful connector, and a performer who knows how to make the room both a witness and a participant.
Source: https://kxt.org/2025/08/dezi-5-commands-the-kessler-with-a-show-stopping-set-and-special-guests/