Ari Lennox brought her Vacancy Tour to YouTube Theater, where a live band anchored the production and a fully engaged crowd met a performance that felt both elevated and deeply personal, reflecting the growth she has embraced in this new era.
Opening the night, Phabo, a San Diego native, set the tone early with a smooth, crowd-ready set, performing standout tracks like “Luv Songs,” “LNF,” and “Stay,” giving the crowd something to immediately connect with.
Phabo
Credit: Wes and Alex Photography / YouTube Theater
After Phabo opened the night, Lekan, a Nigerian-American artist out of Ohio who has worked alongside Erykah Badu, Jessie Reyez, and Bongo ByTheWay, brought intention to every moment of his set. Pulling from his recent EP For All The Right Reasons Vol. 1, Lekan moved seamlessly between records like “Safety,” “Always,” and “Wildfire,” showing range early. One of the standout moments came with “Worship (Psalm 103),” a gospel-driven performance that shifted the room’s energy completely. It was stripped back, heartfelt, and had the crowd locked in. By the time he closed with “Come Thru,” Lekan had clearly won over a new segment of the audience, setting the stage perfectly for the headliner.
Lekan
Credit: Wes and Alex Photography / YouTube Theater
Ari Lennox wasted no time taking control of the room, opening with “Mobbin in DC” before moving into the title track “Vacancy,” immediately establishing the tone of the night. Her setlist flowed with intention, balancing newer records like “Pretzel,” “High Key,” “Under The Moon,” and “Twin Flame” with the catalog that built her foundation. The middle stretch of the show really hit its stride with “Get Close / Deep Strokes” and “On It,” where her band leaned into extended grooves and gave her space to play vocally. Tracks like “24 Seconds” and “Waste My Time” carried that momentum, blending storytelling with sharp, controlled delivery.
The night’s biggest reactions came during her guest moments. Lucky Daye joined her on stage for “Boy Bye,” adding a smooth back-and-forth dynamic that felt effortless. Shortly after, Ty Dolla Sign made his appearance for “Got Me,” instantly lifting the energy in the room and turning the performance into a full crowd singalong. From there, Lennox leaned into her classics. “Whipped Cream” and “BMO” brought a wave of nostalgia, while “New Apartment” felt reflective, almost like a bridge between eras. When the opening notes of “Pressure” hit, the crowd didn’t miss a beat, easily one of the loudest moments of the night.
She closed with “Shea Butter Baby,” a fitting end to a set that highlighted not just her vocal ability, but her growth as an artist fully in control of her sound and story.
Ari Lennox
Credit: Wes and Alex Photography / YouTube Theater
