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The Black Pumas
Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, Austin, TX
May 30, 2021
Photography by Suzanne Cordeiro
Following more heavy rain on Sunday in Austin, the skies cleared just in time for Black Pumas to perform to approximately 2,000 excited fans. Deep into their sold-out five-night run at Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater, guitarist Adrian Quesada and frontman Eric Burton welcomed live music back to the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
What followed was a dynamite set of raw soul power. The crowd rolled with the music, settling into a groove that bordered on blissful ecstasy. It’s hard to say who was enjoying themselves more – the audience or Burton, who frequently hopped off the stage to join the fans along the barrier.
The excitement seemed to build throughout the evening and by the time the band played their Grammy-nominated hit “Colors,” it was ready to explode. Everyone sang along, exhibiting a sense of unity and connection that so many have craved throughout the pandemic.
As the crowd cheered for more, Burton sprinted along Red River Street and surprised the folks in the back by emerging with his acoustic guitar in hand. Harkening back to his days of busking on the Santa Monica pier, he played a solo rendition of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” The crowd quickly picked up on the community vibe and turned it into a raucous sing-along, at times drowning out Burton’s glorious falsetto.
Live music is back!
PHOTO GALLERY
Eric Burton of the Black Pumas surprised the crowd in the back of Stubb’s Amphitheater with a solo performance of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” during the encore.