You never know who you might run into in Fort Worth. Usually Joe T. Garcia’s in the Stockyards gets all the celebrities, but this week, it was a West Seventh St. coffee shop that played host to a famous touring musician.
Pop star Conan Gray made a stop at Fort Worth’s Match Point Coffee Monday, March 9, before his Dickies Arena performance on his Wishbone World Tour Tuesday, March 10. The coffee shop also sold exclusive Conan Gray merchandise before the show Tuesday.
Who is Conan Gray?
Though Gray was born in California, the 27-year-old singer and songwriter spent a majority of his upbringing in Georgetown. He started posting video blogs of his life in the Austin suburb as well as covers of songs on YouTube in 2013.
In 2018, he played hooky from class at Georgetown High School to record what would be his first viral song, called “Idle Town.” The song’s YouTube video now has more than 22 million views and more than 111 million streams on Spotify.
The hit single reflects Gray’s life as a teenager in a small “idle” town.
“Killing time at the yellow cafe (In our idle town),” the song goes. “And curfew’s at midnight. Yeah, I think that we’ll all be okay (In our idle town). The idle town will stay as it stays.”
Shortly after, Republic Records signed Gray, and he released his first EP “Sunset Season,” which led to him opening for Grammy Award-winning band Panic! At The Disco.
Fast-forward to today, Gray is a multi-platinum songwriter and is on his own world tour for his “Wishbone” album, which is his fourth studio record.
Gray performed at Fort Worth’s Dickies Arena on March 10.
“Fort Worth :’) thank you for the big Texan welcome home,” he wrote on his Instagram story after the show. “I’ve missed you. I’ve missed sweet tea. I’ve missed hearing that warm southern accent. Love you bigger than the Texas sky.”
What does Conan Gray sing about?
Many of Gray’s songs reflect his life in Texas.
A 2024 single, “Holiday,” talks about a classic Austin-based breakfast spot.
“Took a flight back to Texas just like every year, We barely talk, but our friendship can’t disappear,” the song references. “At Kerbey Lane, the coffee tastes like gasoline. Could you order some for me?”
Another song, “Grow,” recounts leaving Georgetown to move to Los Angeles where there are “concrete and zooming street signs.”
In the song “Connell” from his most recent “Wishbone” album, Gray refers to the differences in upbringings between him and his love interest.
“I’m from Texas skies, you’re from London street,” he sings in the song.
Gray will make his last Texas stop on the “Wishbone Tour” at The Toyota Center in Houston on March 11.
🔥 In case you missed it…
Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.