We at THP have been wondering when Lil Nas X would finally embark on a headlining tour in support of MONTERO, and the time has come! We couldn’t be more excited for the Long Live Montero tour, which will be stopping in cities like New York, NY and Nashville, TN this fall. There are even some international dates in countries like Germany and Belgium! We’ll be in line to ‘SCOOP’ up tickets the second they go up for sale on Ticketmaster on April 29th. And, of course, we’ll be watching the trailer on repeat until then.
But now that we know when the tour will take place, we have more to ponder… the setlist, the choreography, the costumes, the stage itself, all of it! Lil Nas X is undoubtedly one of the best performers in modern pop, hip-hop, and R&B, so there’s no question that the show will be incredible. Let’s take a look back at some of his best performances to date to get excited together!
‘DEAD RIGHT NOW’ x ‘MONTERO’ x ‘INDUSTRY BABY’ – GRAMMYs 2022
Yes, it’s been weeks since this year’s GRAMMY Awards, but we’re still not over this incredible mashup performance LNX gave us. He kicked off with the emotional second verse of ‘DEAD RIGHT NOW,’ which touches on the struggles he faced in his teen years and his dad’s skepticism in his early music career. Then he launched right into two of his biggest hits to date, both of which took the world and internet by storm! What a glow-up. And that choreography? Impeccable.
‘MONTERO’ – BET Awards
Speaking of ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),’ this list wouldn’t be complete without his show-stopping slot at the 2021 BET Awards. He went all-out with an Egyptian theme, adding a musical intro that sounded like something straight out of a triumphant Marvel soundtrack and a complex set that really brought it to life. And he notably kissed one of his backup dancers at the end to really drive the queer love story home – it was so iconic that he included a poster of it in the ‘INDUSTRY BABY’ music video. Chef’s kiss.
‘HOLIDAY’ – Amazon Music
It doesn’t have to be a holiday to jam out to this energetic performance of ‘HOLIDAY!’ From the sci-fi set to the pink armor costume, this was such a spectacle. He got to flex his success (“check the charts, sis”), show off his dance moves, and finally give ‘HOLIDAY’ the recognition it deserves. We wish it got more attention though, so join us in trending #JusticeForHOLIDAY on Twitter next time you’re online.
‘DEAD RIGHT NOW’ – BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge
Okay, we know we technically already featured ‘DEAD RIGHT NOW’ with the GRAMMY performance, but it’s just one of his best songs. Sorry, not sorry! This version of the track really gave it a new dimension – first, we have to mention the beautiful set, teeming with butterflies and flowers. Second, we have to mention Nas’ vocals and the confidence he delivers them with. We know he can command a stage when it’s all decked out with elaborate platforms and lights, but it was really nice to see him take on a more subdued vibe that lets his music and story take the spotlight.
‘PANINI’ – The Ellen Show
“Say to me what you want from me…” LNX, we want you to keep performing ‘PANINI’ forever! The sci-fi vibes of the music video translated so well to the Ellen stage and the electronic background vocals that kicked in before the beat got us hyped before Lil Nas X even opened his mouth. The white jumpsuit was also such a look – catch us trying to find a similar one to wear to the Long Live Montero tour! It gave off the same feel as the black outfit from the music video while still giving us something new and fresh.
‘Old Town Road’ x ‘Rodeo’ – GRAMMYs 2020
We have to end this roundup by going back to where Lil Nas X’s musical journey really began: the Old Town Road, of course! He had everyone dancing with his GRAMMY performance of ‘Old Town Road,’ which recruited BTS, Diplo, Mason Ramsey, and Billy Ray Cyrus to sing along with their remixes of the song. Once that rodeo was over, LNX brought the Nas on stage to perform their ‘Rodeo’ collab.
And did you catch the sly ‘PANINI’ reference on the set? ‘PANINI’ was named after the Chowder character Panini, who was really possessive over the titular character. Nas used it as a metaphor for his early fans who hyped him up then shied away once he made it big. On the beginning and ending set, you can see Chowder playing on a TV screen!
What songs do you hope Lil Nas X performs on tour? Are you gonna try to snag tickets? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter! And for more Lil Nas X content to browse in the meantime, click here.
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