d4vd Takes His Fans on an Emotional Journey During the Austin Stop of the ‘Withered World Tour’
Written by Samantha Firmin | August 16, 2025
photos by Samantha Firmin w/ ‘Withered World Tour’
d4vd
It was a hot and packed Saturday night at Stubb’s Austin as fans donning bloody oxford shirts, black ties, roses, and labubus eagerly waited for d4vd to take the stage. The 20-year-old singer-songwriter, originally from Houston, Texas, released his debut album WITHERED back in April and continues to rise in popularity as listeners fall in love with his distinctive genre-blending sound and dreamy vocals. Austin marked the fourth stop on his Withered World Tour and was nothing short of memorable.
Bryant Barnes
The opener, Bryant Barnes, set the perfect tone for what was to come. Also hailing from the Houston area, Barnes has a considerable following of his own, most notably on TikTok where his acoustic covers and original songs have gone viral. His R&B style complements d4vd’s, and his honey-like vocals definitely earned him new fans that night. His set ranged from a stripped version of Don’t Want a Love Song to a hype performance of You’ll Regret Loving Me, which had the crowd jumping. He closed with his most popular song, I’d Rather Pretend, creating a beautiful atmosphere as fans waved their phone flashlights in the air.
By the time d4vd’s guitarist and drummer stepped on stage, the sun had fully set and fans were restless waiting for his arrival. He made a dramatic entrance, bursting through clouds of fog and kicking off the show with the high-tempo track What Are You Waiting For. The energy he brought to the stage from the very beginning was one of the standout aspects of his performance. His enthusiasm and stage presence never let up and were equally matched by the fans who danced and cheered all night long.
Just two songs in, d4vd was welcoming fans and backflipping on stage after joking about his previous mishap at Coachella (iykyk). He transitioned to songs off of his first EP, Petals to Thorns, which included Backstreet Girl, Sleep Well, You & I, and Worthless. Throughout the performances, lucky fans had their phones and gifts make it to the stage, with someone even gifting him a custom d4vd labubu. The singer, who has expressed his love for the plush toys and wears them as a fashion accessory on his belt, exclaimed in a British accent:
“Oh my gosh, I have just acquired the rare 24K d4vd labubu.”
d4vd brought out several special guests, including his sister Emily for a touching performance of Here With Me and Bryant for their duo version of I’d Rather Pretend. He also featured songs from his collaborations with Laufey (This Is How It Feels), Kali Uchis (Crashing), and Stray Kids’ Hyunjin (Always Love).
The surprises did not end there, as Austin was treated to an unreleased song titled Talking to Myself and an impromptu acoustic rendition of Atomic Land. Despite being worried about forgetting the lyrics or the mid-chorus key change, he certainly delivered on the fans’ request:
“First time doing this, phones up, I wanna see this on TikTok.”
Moments like this made his concert feel intimate and grounded. His chats with fans felt like chats with friends, with everyone laughing over inside jokes or discussing being “performative males, drinking matcha, eating Dubai chocolate, and listening to Clairo.”
d4vd @Stubb’s Austin
He brought the night to a heartfelt close with Afterlife, which he described as “one of the most emotional songs I’ve ever written,” followed by Romantic Homicide, the track that skyrocketed his career. It felt like the perfect way to end the night, with seemingly everyone in the crowd belting out the lyrics in unison.
d4vd’s concert was an emotional journey, where attendees were invited into his world of love, loss, and longing for what could have been. However, despite the hard-hitting lyricism, he delivered a performance full of raw talent, charisma, and authenticity. These qualities not only explain the close connection he shares with fans, but they are also sure to take him far in his career.
