Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026. Starr Lee/ STAFF.
OAKLAND — Neo-soul artist Ari Lennox opened her two-night Bay Area run with an expressive performance at Paramount Theatre on Wednesday, delivering a set rooted in candor and connection with her audience.
Ari Lennox
Lekan, Phabo
8 p.m., Thursday, April 16
The Fillmore, San Francisco
Tickets: $64 and up.
The Oakland show set an intimate tone early, favoring live instrumentation and audience interaction over heavy production. Backed by a tight, responsive band, Lennox moved fluidly through her songbook, allowing songs to stretch and settle in ways that felt organic.
The stage production introduced a cohesive concept. Styled to resemble a hotel lobby, the set aligned with the themes of her latest album, January’s Vacancy. Two supporting vocalists, dressed as bellhops, added layered harmonies while reinforcing the visual identity of the performance.
An interplay between levity and sincerity carried into more introspective songs like “Shea Butter Baby,” where her delivery felt especially resonant.
“Thank you for coming, because my motel was about to go out of business,” she said at one point.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
The band played a critical role in shaping the experience. Its arrangements allowed for flexibility, giving Lennox space to interact with the crowd while sustaining the momentum. Rich and controlled, her tone translated seamlessly, particularly on slower, emotionally grounded tracks like “Whipped Cream,” where the stripped-back arrangement highlighted her range and phrasing.
Midway through the set, the energy shifted as the band transitioned into a groove inspired by Black Baptist church rhythms, complete with swelling organ tones. The moment briefly turned the theater into a Sunday service. Lennox paused, leaning into the atmosphere.
“I’m still catching the Holy Ghost — oh shit, I mean shoot,” she said, laughing, before embracing the communal energy.
San Diego crooner Phabo opened his opening set by pulling from his newly released EP, 4 Play II. His recurring call — “Repeat after me, do not go through that phone” — prompted a playful, unified response from the crowd, especially from those who admitted they had snooped through their partners’ devices.
Soul artist Lekan, an Ohio-raised first-generation Nigerian American, made his Bay Area debut with a more measured, melodic approach. Drawing from For All the Right Reasons, Vol. 1, released earlier this month, he got the crowd’s attention with a smooth delivery and steady pacing on songs like “Make It Right” and “Wildfire.”
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Ari Lennox performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Phabo performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Phabo performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Lekan performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Lekan performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
Lekan performs at Paramount Theatre in Oakland on April 15, 2026.
About The Author
Starr Lee made the jump into concert photography to combine a longtime love of live music and the joy of doing her best to give people FOMO through an image. She’s focused on R&B, hip-hop, and pop music.
Starr Lee made the jump into concert photography to combine a longtime love of live music and the joy of doing her best to give people FOMO through an image. She’s focused on R&B, hip-hop, and pop music.