Sombr Takes Us Behind the Scenes of His First Headlining Tour

[Sombr grunting]

[optimistic music]

I'm getting ready for my second night

out of three in London.

Just waiting for you to catch up.

Just look at that stage; look at that set.

[Sombr clapping] [clap echoing]

Whoa, that's crazy! [rhythmically clapping and stomping]

Favorite thing to do when I get to a new city?

Find the nearest vintage shop and take all the good stuff.

Tips for thrifting: you should be able to, like,

do this and show a little belly.

I feel like that's important.

I'll be going to soundcheck now.

[ethereal music]

[footsteps clacking]

Feeding off the energy of the crowd

is just a different type of feeling.

It's very rewarding to write something,

and create a song from nothing,

and have people, like, sing the lyrics.

The first time it happened, it didn't feel real.

I was like, How is this my life?

It was at a show that wasn't sold out; you know, 200 people,

but it still felt crazy.

Then, like, the first time I walked out

and it was 50,000 people doing that, it was just like, damn.

A year ago, I never thought it would be possible

to play shows as a headline for even a thousand people.

Being in the position I'm in now is just more

than I could ever ask for, and I'm so grateful,

and I'll never take it for granted.

I love that my job doesn't feel like a job.

It's what I want to be doing, and it's what I love doing.

And I think in order to be happy,

you have to like what you're doing every day,

and music is all I've ever wanted to do,

and I get to do it every day, so I'm happy.

I think my favorite song to perform live right now

has to be my new song Home Wrecker.

Whoo!

[band playing Home Wrecker]

[singers vocalizing]

[indistinct] that.

♪ You hit like a drunk cigarette ♪

♪ The feelin' amplified ♪

♪ By sayin' things we never meant, oh yeah ♪

♪ You leave me filled with regret ♪

♪ At the end of the night ♪

♪ I always find myself wonderin' why, oh yeah ♪

I love being on the road, and I love traveling.

It's really cool waking up in a new city every day

and being able to find a new coffee shop,

or find a new vintage store, or find a new record store.

I feel like I learn more and more

about every country the more I go.

And people are just so nice and welcoming.

♪ I don't wanna talk down on your lover ♪

♪ I don't wanna be a homewrecker ♪

♪ I just know I can be better, be better, be better ♪

This tour was booked eight months ago,

so we've been waiting so long for it.

And the crowds are just crazy on another level.

And like I said, I never expected to be doing this,

so I'm just so grateful and trying to soak it all in.

♪ Just know I can be better, be better, be better ♪

Ooh, rate my model walk.

Yeah, I did Replica Handbag Store World.

[footsteps clacking] [crew chattering]

Guys, look at this.

There are the fans lined up.

You can kinda see them.

They don't know that I'm right here.

Oh, maybe they do. [laughing]

That's so funny.

[fans knocking on window]

They're so cute.

Okay, bye, guys.

[gentle music]

I'm gonna introduce you to my band now.

[band chattering and laughing]

Hey, guys.

Say hello to Vogue.

[band saying various greeting]

I have the mic in my shirt,

so I'm gonna have to get really close to you guys

when you're all introducing yourselves.

I'm Mitch; I play the drums.

But what do we call him?

What do we call him?

[band replying]

Meh; we call him Meh.

Sam.

Every time I see Sam, we do something,

it's called a love surge.

Oh yeah, should we do it?

Should we- Okay.

[Together] Love surge!

Sal.

Goes without saying, Sal is the lead guitarist

and he, you know, I'm just gonna say it,

he brings the most energy every show.

My name's Lemmy; I play the guitar.

I'm Ian.

I'm the freshman.

He's our new bassist, but we love him.

What's our pre-show ritual?

We'll all put our hands in the center and we'll, like,

list a few reasons why this show is important.

For tonight in London, I'll probably be like,

Look, it's our second night in London.

These people have been waiting eight months

for this fucking show.

They are so excited.

I want you to give them what the first night got,

but even more.

Take it one step further.

[Sal] Multiply it by six.

Multiply it by six or seven.

And act like it. [Sal laughing]

Exactly.

[optimistic music]

[Sombr clearing throat]

I mean, I feel the most myself

when I'm dressed up in my stage clothes,

because I feel the most myself on the stage.

So we were doing my first-ever TV performance,

which felt absolutely unreal.

It was for Jimmy Fallon,

and I was like, I wanna do one thing that is just different

that you haven't seen before.

And I also was really nervous with, like,

moving on stage then.

We came up with the idea to make a mic stand

that wherever I threw it, it always came back to me.

So it really helped me to, like, start moving a little bit

and also it was that unique thing,

and we just kind of stuck with it.

It made its way to the Grammys.

I'll come in about 15 minutes before every show,

and I'll just see what my mood is like,

and put on whatever I'm feeling that night,

and maybe I'll try a few things,

or maybe it'll be instant and easy.

I know I have a lot of fun doing this every night

because I love putting outfits together.

I think it's giving me, like, British rock vibes.

We're in the UK.

So I'm thinking maybe some Jagger influence,

maybe some Bowie influence.

I know I like this top from Valentino.

I'm thinking a full Valentino look tonight, and then shoes.

For some reason, I feel like cheetah print boots could be,

like, interesting with this, but I need to try it.

And I don't wanna try it and have Replica Handbag Store rip me apart

because it looks ugly, but I don't know.

I just feel like a hint of cheetah print will hit.

So I'm gonna get into this,

and then I'm gonna try cheetah print boots.

[music rumbling]

[footsteps clacking]

[crew member speaking indistinctly]

[Crew Member] Yes.

♪ Ooh ♪

So this is what I'm wearing tonight.

Change it up a bit.

And yeah, we're about to go play the fuck out of this show.

[audience screaming]

Check, check, check, check, check.

[crew member talking quietly]

♪ I wish I knew how to quitcha ♪

Hands in.

London night two, let's fucking rock out,

and give them the best show and fucking act like it.

Thank you so much, Vogue.

This one's for Vogue.

I love you guys.

See you guys out there.

You're about to hear a loud scream.

[audience screaming]

[footsteps pounding]

[Sombr laughing]

[Sombr speaking indistinctly]

Bye-bye.

[audience screaming]

Whoo!

[band playing Home Wrecker]

[singers vocalizing]

Whoo!

Yeah, yeah!

♪ You hit like a drunk cigarette ♪

♪ The feelin' amplified ♪

♪ By sayin' things we never meant, oh, yeah ♪

♪ You leave me filled with regret ♪

♪ At the end of the night ♪

♪ I always find myself wonderin' why, oh yeah ♪

♪ With rhythm, there is rhyme ♪

♪ With you, there always can be ♪

♪ I wanna see you in another light, ooh ♪

♪ I don't wanna talk down on your lover ♪

♪ I don't wanna be a homewrecker ♪

♪ I just know I can be better, be better, be better ♪

♪ I don't wanna talk down on your lover ♪

♪ I don't wanna be a broken record ♪

♪ I just know I can be better, be better, be better ♪

♪ Be better ♪

[audience cheering]