So-So Topic said a beautiful goodbye to Dallas Thursday night at Trees, complete with supporting performances from talented friends, a pizza truck, and a mini skatepark. The artist, who has lived in Dallas all his life, is moving to Oakland, California to complete his long awaited third album, These Things Will Happen.
Topic faced some major complications with the making of the album: Last year, his collaborator, keyboardist Jordan “JoJo” Walker, was killed in a car accident; a month later, a hard drive containing more than half of the album, and years of Topic’s work, was stolen, and he was forced to start again with nearly nothing. Earlier that same year, Topic became the first musician to receive a grant from the city’s Office of Cultural Affairs.
You could feel the artist’s poignant relationship with Dallas at his farewell concert, where supporting acts and fans alike supported him. The Dallas band Sealion tipped its hat to Topic for bringing punk and hip-hop together during a high-energy set. Trai Bo also gave a memorable performance, bringing an artist on stage to sketch while playing catchy, likable tunes. Topic ended the evening on a high note, delivering an emotional and poetic performance through a big smile and watery eyes. Lucky for the city, he won’t stay away forever. He promised that this was merely his last concert as a Dallas resident.
