Review: NxWorries @ House of Blues 9/24

Photo Credit: Israel Ramos

Review by James Klein

On Wednesday night, NxWorries, the duo of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge, came to the House of Blues to deliver a celebratory and energetic set. Formed in Los Angeles, NxWorries debuted with “Yes Lawd!” in 2016, blending .Paak’s soulful vocals with Knxwledge’s sample-heavy beats. Their 2024 follow-up, “Why Lawd?,” won the Grammy for Best Progressive R&B Album. Now, the duo is embarking on their first North American tour, bringing Grammy-winning energy to Boston.

Outside the venue, anticipation buzzed as fans lined up along Lansdowne Street. The venue glowed with blue lighting, and a digital screen projected a red curtain. A wooden dining chair sat beside a DJ booth in front of the curtain, hinting at the theatrics to follow.

When the lights went down, Rae Khalil, another songwriter from the Bay Area, sat in the chair and delivered a charming set, impressing the crowd with swift rapping and jazzy vocal runs. Khalil gave an energetic, confident, and occasionally hilarious performance, packed with crowd interaction and lively dance moves. Khalil made sure each member of the audience was having a good time, getting everyone excited for NxWorries to take the stage.

Between the sets, the screen displayed various 3D characters, from Hank Hill to Kermit the Frog, dancing to techno music, before the red curtain returned and the lights went out. “Boston, y’all ready for NxWorries?” The screen showed an animation of the duo pulling up on a tour bus as “ThankU,” the opening track off “Why Lawd?,” played. This led into the second track, “86Sentra,” as Knxwledge rose behind the screen on an illuminated DJ booth and Anderson .Paak took the front stage. Confetti burst from both sides of the stage as the beat dropped. 

Anderson .Paak appeared in a black suit and sunglasses, topped with an oversized fuzzy crown over a Chanel towel. The NxWorries emblem, a glowing white X, appeared onscreen, as Anderson .Paak introduced himself and Knxwledge, leading into “Wngs” from “Yes Lawd!” He serenaded the crowd with his smooth, jazzy vocals, playfully asking, “Boston, do you feel sexy?,” after the song.

They reached back to 2016 with tracks like “Get Bigger / Do U Luv,” “Kutless,” and “What More Can I Say.” Paak’s charismatic vocals and dance moves brought the early material to life. He showcased his dancing with “Move On,” moving with salsa-inspired steps, the screen behind him mirroring his movements. 

Throughout the show, this screen displayed a range of graphics, from solid colors to childhood photos, to more of Kermit the Frog dancing. While .Paak commanded the stage, Knxwledge worked mostly in shadows behind the booth, quietly nodding as he layered beats and samples. He drove the vibe of each song, delivering lo-fi beats, layering samples to create a textured soundscape for Anderson .Paak’s smooth yet raspy vocals. The duo shone on songs such as “Lyk Dis,” where .Paak sang and rapped over soul samples, taking his glasses off at the lyric “Say, eye contact (Just like this).”

Another highlight came when Rae Khalil returned to deliver her verse on “OutTheWay,” dancing with .Paak and displaying more beautiful vocals. Anderson .Paak kept performing more from “Why Lawd?,” bringing out a purse full of roses to throw into the crowd as he rapped his “MoreOfIt” verse. Next, the duo performed “FromHere,” where .Paak displayed his rich falsetto as white lights illuminated a disco ball above the crowd, creating a stunning visual effect on stage and around the venue, garnering an extended applause. 

Anderson .Paak took a short break for what Knxwledge called a “sing-along,” mixing songs from Mary J. Blige’s “Mary Jane (All Night Long),” to Bobby Caldwell’s “What You Won’t Do For Love,” to Oasis’s “Wonderwall,” pairing the songs with groovy production for the crowd to dance and sing to. Anderson .Paak returned to the stage in a full-white suit, picking back up the energy with “Link Up.” 

The duo played another early song, “Droogs,” before .Paak cut it off, joking “I’m too old for that shit.” Anderson .Paak took a moment to appreciate Knxwledge and the success of their tour so far. He then said “I wanna hear more singing,” which led into Knxwledge playing Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” which got the crowd going before the duo played their hit “Suede,” where most audience members sang along. Next came another highlight during “Everybody Gets Down,” where .Paak invited about 20 fans on stage to dance, then playfully ushered them off with, “It’s my show!” 

As the show wound down, Anderson .Paak joined Knxwledge in the DJ booth for “Daydreaming.” The crowd waved their lights in the air as the duo performed the dream-like hit. The song ended with another burst of confetti, and the duo bowed together. After bowing with Knxwledge, .Paak returned for an encore, performing “WalkOnBy” with Rae Khalil, closing the show with another burst of confetti. 

NxWorries created an immersive show that radiated good vibes and often felt like a party. Anderson .Paak’s effortless vocals and crowd-pleasing stage presence, matched by Knxwledge’s understated yet powerful production, made for an unforgettable night. The duo’s commanding performance and endless talent left the audience wanting more. If this tour is any indication, NxWorries is poised to continue captivating audiences for years to come.