The Catch Me If You Can Tour wraps in Boston on June 11th

The Scarlet Opera have proven once again why they are the hottest new voices in pop-rock.

Their show at Songbyrd in DC on Sunday night (June 9th) featured all five numbers from their 2023 debut EP Comedy. They also offered new numbers that the group has been teasing are part of an imminent second EP.

Set opener “Catch Me If You Can” set the tone for a no-holds-barred night of high adrenaline and even higher vocals. Leading man—the Opera’s conductor extraordinaire—Luka Bazulka has perhaps the best voice in pop music. Authentic and unaided by computers, his absolutely insane range can convey the most complex emotions.

The new number “What Good is Love” is a wailing power ballad that smacks of Def Leppard’s “Hysteria,” and “Slutty” is a fun number about releasing inhibitions and was quickly a crowd sing-along, despite being unreleased. Cover number “I Fell in Love with a Dead Boy” is the moment that showcased Bazulka’s emotive power, much like his cover of Cher from the first time TMU attended the Opera in April 2023. “Dead Boy” was originally written and recorded by ANHONI and the Johnsons, but it seems it may make an appearance on the upcoming EP.

Colin Kenrick continues to provide the backbone of the group, his keyboards often laying the bedrock for each number. Daniel Zucker on bass and drum-killer Justin Siegal are a dynamic duo on the percussion. Chance Taylor shreds as guitarist and is the one Luka seems to lean on the most–both figuratively and literally–to keep him on point. The foursome really get to showcase their skills on an extended intro to Comedy number “Riot” which this reporter hopes remains a mainstay of the song’s live arrangement.

Bazulka’s stage presence is nothing short of mesmerizing. He can jolt like the music is moving him via shockwaves, or flow elegantly from one end of the stage to another. Between gyrations, Luka takes the time to wave at individual audience members. Much like TSO’s music speaks to a certain lived experience, Luka wants to make sure fans feel seen.

And those fans are fiercely loyal, even at this still-early stage of The Scarlet Opera’s stardom. One fan found out about the group through their appearance on The Late, Late Show with James Corden, and went down a rabbit hole and has been a massive fan ever since. Others discovered the music when Luka and Co. opened for Ava Maxx on her recent US jaunt. Still others were converted via the For You Page on Instagram and TikTok. With it becoming ever easier for artists and fans to connect, The Scarlet Opera’s following seems to grow by the thousands daily.

The crowd screamed the lyrics to every song back to the band as if Songbyrd had grown 20,000 seats. Luka handed the countdown that marks the chorus of “Big City Thing” to the audience, and they took off running.

One thing the music of The Scarlet Opera has going for it — each song is instantly recognizable by the first three bars. This autonomous recognition automatically sends the mob into a frenzy, long before a note is sung. We were one screaming the opening mantra of “Riot” before Luka had even returned to the stage. And the couples in the crowd belted “I’ve Been Waiting For You” as if the song were written specifically for their relationships.

The Scarlet Opera is on a sure path to superstardom. This night at Songbyrd was one of only two shows sold out before the event. No surprise, the second half of the Catch Me If You Can Tour sold out weeks ago. With new music on the horizon and the full support of Republic Records, The Scarlet Opera will surely be back in bigger venues, until Luka’s personality and voice are blowing the roof off of arenas nationwide. “Someone’s Gotta Love ‘Em,” and I suspect the whole world will, very soon.