[Concert Review] Experiencing the Soulful Magic: PinksWeat$ LiGhts Up New York City

Natalia Kabenge

Credit: Natalia Kabenge

The evening of February 16th, a line wrapped around the outside of Manhattan’s Gramercy Theater, eager fans waiting their turn to make their way through the doors and into the venue, where an unforgettable evening awaited them. R&B singer David Bowden, better known by his stage name Pink Sweat$, took the stage that evening, giving the performance of a lifetime to a sold out crowd. His show was opened by soloist Solomon, whose sultry vocals and carefree spirit helped ease us into the atmosphere of the show. 

The crowd erupted into cheers and applause upon seeing Pink Sweat$ finally join his two guitarists and keyboardists on stage. He opened the show with “Spiritual”, the final track on his album “Pink Moon”. Illuminated by nothing but candlelight, and armed with nothing more than a pink microphone, the audience got to witness what was just the beginning of an evening full of otherworldly vocals. Naturally, he and his band were in matching pink pants and jerseys, which was quite an endearing sight. It was clear the four of them were especially close, as Sweat$ himself took multiple chances throughout the night to acknowledge his band, encouraging the audience to cheer for them as the performance went on. 

Not only is Pink Sweat$ an exceptional artist, lyricist, and performer, but this show made it clear he’s also an expert storyteller. He seamlessly wove stories of his childhood, personal struggles, and songwriting process into his performance throughout the evening. One of his most popular songs to date is easily “Honesty”, which many were excited to hear the beginning notes of as his guitarist began to play the sweet melody as he explained how the song came about. Simply put, he told the audience that he wanted to create a universal love song—one that anyone could relate to, whether they found themselves madly in love with someone, heartbroken, or having given up on love just a bit too soon. Everyone in the venue that evening sang their hearts out right along with him, with his rich belting and vibrant falsetto carrying the song along. Not only did he effortlessly hit every note he sang that night, but he demonstrated his versatility as an artist during a cover of Richard Smallwood’s “Total Praise”, a gospel song Sweat$ explained he grew up hearing but was too shy to sing during his time in the church. His rendition was nothing short of breathtaking—he picked out the perfect harmonies, and climbed an octave higher to deliver a powerful closing to the song. 


Having entered the venue knowing he was an amazing artist but unaware of just how he would touch the hearts of us all, there’s truly an infinite amount of words that could be used to describe just how Pink Sweat$ is—not just as an artist, but as a human being. He brings a level of humanity and true compassion to his performances that showcase his down to earth character and relatable demeanor. His goal, simply put, is to spread nothing but love and positivity through his music, and needless to say, he’s succeeding. He and his music are a beautiful reminder, one that many of us could use right now, that love still exists in the world. He continues his tour west, stopping in Canada, Illinois, Oregon, and Washington before concluding with two stops in California on the 26th and 27th of February. Getting to see Pink Sweat$ live was a once in a lifetime opportunity for many, and for those who have yet to see him awaits an unforgettable evening with one of the most incredible human beings in music today. ​