📍Emo’s — Nov. 3, 2025
Written by Perrin Boyd

I first discovered Leon through his 2024 hit “MUTT,” a smooth and catchy R&B track that had me expecting a mellow night of soulful grooves. But when I arrived at Emo’s on Monday night and saw the line wrapped around the venue, I knew I was in for something bigger. And Leon delivered. His live sound leaned heavily into soul, blues, and deep instrumental jams, while still keeping the warmth and intimacy of his recorded work. For me, it was one of those rare nights where you realize you’re watching an artist who was born to do this.

Emo’s was packed to the walls for the sold-out Leon Thomas show. From the moment the band took the stage, the crowd was locked in — phones out, ready to capture every second. They opened with a slow-building jam that swelled and swelled until Leon walked out and the room lit up.

What stood out most was just how musical he is. He moved across the stage with ease, trading spots on guitar, bass, and even drums — each switch somehow more impressive than the last. His voice carried power and warmth, but it was his range as a musician that really blew me away.

Thomas moved through his set with effortless balance, shifting between smooth, emotional slow burns and big, soulful jams. One of the standout moments for me was “Just How You Are” from his new EP — a groovy, funk-driven track that had the entire room moving. It’s the kind of song that just hits your body first: you’re tapping your feet, nodding your head, and suddenly you’re dancing without thinking about it.

He wove in fan favorites like “VIBES DON’T LIE” and “YES IT IS,” letting the energy settle and giving space for his vocal control to shine. “Treasure in the Hills” brought the room into a quiet, almost reflective stillness before he lifted the crowd right back up again. The push and pull between the slow burners and the high-energy jams kept the night breathing — never flat, always rising.

He closed the night with “MUTT,” and the entire room sang every word like it was a memory. Leon grinned, stepped back from the mic, and thanked the crowd for loving a song that, in his words, “changed my life.” It felt like the exact right way to end the show — full of joy, gratitude, and connection.

And the thing is, Leon Thomas has been building to a moment like this for years. From performing on Broadway as a kid to a Nickelodeon era that most people forget was him, to becoming a chart-topping songwriter and artist — the range has always been there. Seeing him live at Emo’s made it clear just how much that history has shaped him. He’s not just talented. He’s seasoned. He’s confident. He knows who he is onstage.

Walking out of the venue, I couldn’t stop replaying the show in my head. Emo’s always has a way of making big shows feel intimate, and Monday night was no exception. I came expecting R&B and left feeling like I’d witnessed a full-fledged soul and funk artist in his prime. Leon Thomas isn’t just talented — he’s the real deal.