PinkPantheress Passive Set at SXSW Is as Dull as the Buzz Is Big: Concert Review

At some point over the course of every South by Southwest, most attendees ask themselves some version of this question: Who can I see tonight in a club that will likely be playing an arena in a year? Judging from the line to get in (and the floor packed in anticipation) for many Gen Zers

At some point over the course of every South by Southwest, most attendees ask themselves some version of this question: “Who can I see tonight in a club that will likely be playing an arena in a year?” Judging from the line to get in (and the floor packed in anticipation) for many Gen Zers at this year’s conference, the answer to that question on Tuesday was pop chanteuse PinkPantheress, who’s currently riding high on a string of bouncy TikTok hits, including the current viral smash “Boys a Liar Pt 2.”

Unfortunately for her and the audience at the So Satisfying House, all the anticipation was for naught: PinkPantheress, backed only by a DJ, suffered an onslaught of tech problems and a general lack of enthusiasm; her set — composed of same-y, super-short late ’90s garage-era beats, abetted by her sugary-sweet vocals — was one of the least engaging SXSW buzz sets in memory.

Related Stories

A globe with a play button on a passport VIP+

Entertainment Everywhere: A Special Report

VENOM: THE LAST DANCE, (aka VENOM 3), Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock / Venom, 2024. © Marvel / © Sony Pictures Releasing / Courtesy Everett Collection

China Box Office: ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ Enjoys Hollywood’s Second-Best Launch of the Year

Adding to the overall iffyness, the singer was clearly lip-syncing the entire set, holding the mic out at times while her vocals resonated at full force, then speaking in-between songs in a volume range so low, you had to lean in to try to hear her.

Popular on Variety

Her songs are notoriously short, and here almost played like a giant gag. After 90 seconds or so one would end, she’d mumble a bit, and then another would start, with the singer pantomiming the same moves, lip-synching in the same range, and doing the same two-step dance as the last. They blended into each other like a passive, bored scroll through a For You screen: next. next. next. next.

At a festival long known for bringing both artistry and showmanship to the forefront, PinkPantheress’ set was an anomaly, but one unfortunately indicative of the era: all hustle and no flow, all shine but no sheen, all tik — but no tok.

Read More About:

Jump to Comments

More from Variety

Most Popular

Must Read

Sign Up for Variety Newsletters

By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy.We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. // This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Variety Confidential

A Variety and iHeartRadio Podcast

ncG1vNJzZmiukae2psDYZ5qopV9nfXN%2FjqasrKGTZLCwusKeqa1loprDqrHWrGapoZ6gvaK606Gcq52jqHq0xNKwZKmdopu8s7nAp5qeZZSqua15wa6xs2WTpLuksdGtZKudpp6yuHmQa2pubWVqhnZ9jg%3D%3D

 Share!