TEMS
Tems brought her first headlining tour to San Francisco’s Warfield on September 27, performing to a sold-out crowd in support of her debut album Born in the Wild. The Nigerian singer-songwriter delivered a set that was both musically tight and emotionally open, blending her signature mix of soul, alt-R&B, and Afrobeat into a performance that felt personal and powerful.
Opener Lekan, a Nigerian-American artist now based in Ohio, brought a smooth, understated presence that matched the tone of the evening beautifully. Performing alongside his longtime guitarist “E,” Lekan’s set included “Brand New” and “So You Know”, built around warm vibrato and clean arrangements. His 30-minute opener was all soul and subtlety, and it landed.
She took the stage just after 9PM, shimmering in a custom beaded jumpsuit that caught the light with every step. Behind her, a stage adorned with West African grasses swayed gently, a subtle nod to the world she’s building through sound and story.
Opening with “Crazy Tings” off her Free Mind EP, Tems wasted no time locking in the crowd. Her warm, low-toned voice filled the room with ease as she moved through “Avoid Things” and “Replay” before reaching further back to “Damages” from her 2020 debut For Broken Ears.
Her band, understated but razor-sharp, added depth without overpowering the vocal centerpiece. Two backup singers filled in harmonies and emotional weight, helping bring each track to life with a richness that felt close to the original recordings. On stage, Tems was calm but expressive using her hands, her hips, and her gaze to drive the emotion home.
“This is my first time in San Francisco,” she told the crowd mid-set, barely getting the words out before the room erupted in cheers. The crowd - diverse, dialed-in, and deeply connected sang back lyrics all night without prompting. Tems moved easily between moods. She danced through “Wickedest” and “Gangsta” with playful swagger, pointed the mic to the front rows, and invited fans into the moment. “Turn Me Up” and “Burning” gave her room to flex her vocal power and switch between singing and rap-like phrasing, always with total control.
One of the most intimate moments came with “Mr Rebel,” the very first song Tems self-produced and released in 2018. “Do I have any day ones in here?” she asked. The response made it clear: she absolutely did.
Later, during “Forever” (her collaboration with Brent Faiyaz), she climbed down from the stage and sang directly to fans from the photo pit, covering both her and Faiyaz’s parts with seamless fluidity. It was a move that could have felt gimmicky but here, it just felt like she wanted to be closer to the people she was singing to.
She closed the night on a high. “Higher” became a full-crowd singalong that quieted the room in reverence before she flipped the energy with “Love Me Jeje,” a bright, bouncing track that transitioned smoothly into the global hit “Essence.” The crowd didn’t miss a word.
By the end of the night, Tems didn’t just prove she belonged on that stage-she left no doubt that this tour is only the beginning of something much bigger. With a voice that holds weight and a presence that pulls people in, she’s not chasing a moment. She’s building something lasting.
Check out our full live show photo gallery HERE and more live fan cam clips HERE
