REVIEW: Blood Orange Brings the Intimacy of ‘Essex Honey’ to ACL Live in Austin
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY SOPHIE GRAGG ☆
THERE IS A SPECIFIC KIND OF MAGIC THAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ARTIST STOP BEING A PERFORMER AND STARTS BEING A CONDUCTOR OF ENERGY. On Saturday night at ACL Live at The Moody Theater, Dev Hynes, better known as Blood Orange, did exactly that. Returning to the stage in support of his critically acclaimed self-produced album, Essex Honey, Hynes turned the spacious Austin venue into something that felt remarkably like a private sanctuary.
Having followed Blood Orange since college, and most recently catching his set at Camp Flog Gnaw in 2024, I’ve always been struck by the visceral nature of his music. You don’t just hear a Blood Orange track; you feel it. Saturday’s performance was no exception - it was a masterclass in range, moving effortlessly between the hazy, grief-stricken introspection of his new material and the high-energy, funk-laced hits that have defined his career.
The setlist was a carefully curated journey through Hynes’ psyche. Opening with "I Wanna C U," the room was immediately washed in that signature Blood Orange atmosphere: lush, layered, and deeply soulful. As a multi-instrumentalist, Hynes is a treat to watch live; the way he weaves complex instrumentation together feels less like a technical feat and more like a conversation.
A standout moment early in the night was his cover of The Smiths’ "How Soon Is Now?" It was a poignant nod to the themes of Essex Honey, an album rooted in Hynes' upbringing in Essex and the healing power of music. Seeing him perform "Family" and "Saint" back-to-back felt like a communal release, while the newer tracks like "The Last of England" and "Countryside" proved that his ability to innovate remains unmatched.
By the time the night closed out with the hauntingly beautiful "I Can Go," it was clear that Hynes had achieved what Essex Honey set out to do: he used his history, his grief, and his incredible musical gift to create a space for the rest of us to heal, too. Getting to witness Dev Hynes is a rare, immersive experience that reminds you why independent, soul-stirring music is so vital.
