REVIEW: Illenium’s ‘Odyssey’ Release Show at Pier 80
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY ELIJAH CLOWER ☆
IF THERE WAS EVER A NIGHT WHERE THE STARS ALIGNED - it was Illenium’s Odyssey album release show at Pier 80 in San Francisco. Not only was this his first time performing at the industrial waterfront venue, but it was also my first coverage there, first show of the year, and Pier 80’s first show of the year. Add in that this marked the third time I’ve covered Illenium, making him officially the artist I’ve photographed the most, making the evening having this unexplainable mystique before a single note dropped.
The Odyssey launch wasn’t your typical arena tour spectacle; it was more of a community celebration, centered on the moment rather than the maximal production extravaganza. The album itself is 19 tracks deep, stacked with high-profile features from Bring Me the Horizon, Ellie Goulding, Bastille, Elley Duhé, Hayla, Kid Cudi, Zeds Dead, and more — a lineup that reads like Illenium’s version of a summit. Other critics have noted this expansiveness too: Pitchfork highlighted the album’s “emotional breadth and cinematic scope,” while EDM.com praised its “interwoven fusion of bass, melody, and vulnerability.” These aren’t pop collabs for shock value — they’re intentional, layered intersections of genre and feeling.
While I didn’t catch mvse or Audien on the early bill, Crankdat set the tone for high energy, and his performance arguably outshined Illenium’s in sheer intensity. Crankdat’s set pulsed with momentum, sending the crowd into peak mode well before the main course. This contrast mattered because, when Illenium took the stage, his approach was noticeably more relaxed and reflective than at his past Bay Area shows. This was especially striking considering those prior performances were full-throttle experiences, huge drops, massive visuals, and nonstop crowd engagement, setting expectations for something similarly explosive. But hey… with his Las Vegas Sphere residency kicking off next month, you can’t really blame him for maybe saving a few of the bells and whistles for that giant glowing golf ball in the desert.
That said, Odyssey had its own highlights. My personal favorite sequence was the beautifully arranged three-piece run: “Feels Like You” (ft. Elley Duhé), into “In My Arms” (ft. Hayla), and then “Don’t Want Your Love” (ft. Ellie Goulding). The placement, the vocals, and the emotional arc of those three back-to-back tracks were masterfully done — “Absolute cinema” as the kids say these days. It also reminds you that Illenium’s strength has always been crafting moments of connection more than just chasing peaks.
It’s worth noting that while the show didn’t hit the same adrenaline high as some of his previous tours — and yes, production and theatrics were arguably scaled back — that’s likely a result of context. This was an album release event, celebrating new music in its purest form, rather than a dated tour with a pre-built setlist of crowd favorites. Judged on its own terms, it felt like a successful ode to Illenium’s evolution as an artist and curator of sound.
Critical reception around Odyssey itself reflects this duality. Many reviewers have praised the unhurried, narrative feel of the record, but some have also pointed out moments where the breadth of collaborators creates a slightly fragmented identity. Still, few dispute that this album gives Illenium room to grow — and that his emotional range remains a core strength.
In the end, even with a performance that sat more comfortably in reflective space than explosive violence, experiencing Odyssey live was exciting. Hearing new tracks come to life, watching the crowd respond with genuine love for the music rather than just the high moments, and being part of a debut night at a new venue all made this one of those shows that stays with you. It may not have been Illenium’s most adrenaline-charged set, but it was undeniably one of his most meaningful.
