Kaitlyn Hughes | editor-in-chief

PHILADELPHIA — You may know Malcolm Todd for his song “Chest Pain (I Love)” that trended on TikTok, his shirtless performance on Jimmy Fallon in June or his recent commercial with rising star Inde Navarrette from “Obsession.”

But after seeing Todd’s performance at The Met Philadelphia on Saturday, I think the up-and-coming indie singer should be more known for his stage performance and witty sense of humor.

Spectators flooded the live music venue clad in red to go along with Todd’s latest album “Do That Again,” which was released June 5. This is Todd’s third album, and it landed as No. 7 of top 10 debuts on the Billboard charts with a No. 5 slot on the all-genre Billboard 200 in June.

His Philly fans didn’t just show out in uniform, they brought energy that matched the 23-year-old’s stage presence — which consisted of playing his guitar on the floor, random dance breaks and humorous backdrops, which critiqued the audience for saying the swear words in his songs.

Attendees were up and singing, joining in on the random dancing for the entirety of the 23-song set. Even before the singer stepped on the stage, his fans were doing “the wave.”

And Todd knew how to keep the crowd alive. Some of his first words to the Philly audience were “Go Birds!” This obviously sent the audience into a fit of cheers and the occasional boo (myself included.)

Going into the show, I was more excited to see Todd perform songs from his previous albums, “Sweet Boy” and “Malcolm Todd,” than I was to see him play the latest songs in his discography.

But his opening performance of “Jean Skirt” immediately had me hooked with his live display of solid vocals and guitar technique.

Todd kept the audience in a good mood with two more upbeat songs “Breathe” and “Malcolm in the Middle.”

Although somewhat disappointed with the lyrics and lack of catchiness of his new album going into the show, I eventually found myself singing along to lyrics I originally thought were cringy.

This includes Todd’s song “Obessica” that includes the lyrics “I’m a Virgo, you’re a Taurus/Chart says no/Let’s just ignore it.” Despite being a catchy line, I think the words lack the depth Todd’s earlier songs possessed, which initially attracted me to his tunes.

But beyond my critiques, I thought “Difficult Love” was the standout song on his latest album. It features aspects from his debut album “Sweet Boy” with thoughtful lyrics on love and heartbreak and a memorable chorus that left me playing it on repeat this summer.

Basically, if you are a college-aged individual who has experienced love or heart break, you will love Todd and his shows.

Although Todd is not yet a household name, he has recently done ads with name brands like Erewhon and Gap. His Instagram has 1.5 million followers, and he is taking his tour abroad. I think his recently gained traction is well-deserved, and I can see the young singer from Los Angeles going far in the future.

Todd is more than a singer that has upbeat hits that get the crowd on their feet. He also has slow, melodic pieces that drew some of the audience to tears. He can even play the piano, which he did when singing his more emotional songs “Gun To My Head” and “Good Bye.”

He made sure to play all his hit songs “Earrings,” “Sweet Boy” and “Roomates.” And he kept the audience engaged by using a telephone as a microphone for his song “X’s & O’s.”

But I wish he played more of his lesser known songs such as “Mac” and “Starstudded,” which demonstrate his musical creativity.

Although I wish Malcolm Todd scheduled a Pittsburgh show like he did in 2025 at Stage AE, it was worth the five-hour drive to Philly.

If you love to dance and you have a liking for songs about the classic college situationship, I recommend you purchase a ticket to one of his shows — whether it’s in Pittsburgh or hours away. I guarantee Todd will have you up on your feet dancing.

Kaitlyn Hughes can be reached at hughesk10@duq.edu