H.E.R. Brings the “Back Of My Mind Tour” to The Anthem in DC on 10/25/2021

Written by Published on in Music News, Show Previews

This month H.E.R. will be hitting the road for her “Back Of My Mind” Tour, which follows the release in June of her album of the same name. The tour will hit 9 cities in 19 days, including stops in:

  • Franklin, TN on 10/10
  • Grand Prairie, TX on 10/13
  • Sugar Land, TX on 10/14
  • Boston, MA on 10/19
  • Brooklyn, NY on 10/21
  • Philadelphia, PA on 10/23
  • Washington, DC on 10/25
  • Chicago, IL on 10/27
  • Detroit, MI on 10/28

The DC show will be held at The Anthem, a very nice venue that is part of the newly developed District Wharf in Southwest DC. 

H.E.R., which stands for Having Everything Revealed, is the stage name for Gabriella Sarmiento (aka Gabi) Wilson. She was born and raised in Vallejo, CA (in the San Francisco Bay Area) to an African American father and Filipino mother. Her father was an iron worker by day and a musician by night. Spending time with her father and his band exposed H.E.R. to music at a very young age, and she soon demonstrated her ability to sing and play multiple instruments (piano, drums, bass and guitar). H.E.R. honed her skills and went on to appear at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem and also had a well known appearance on the Today Show at age 10 in 2008. There she sang and played piano in a brilliant cover of Alicia Keys’ hit “If I Ain’t Got You”.  After seeing that performance and the poise and talent she exhibited at 10 years old, it is no surprise to anyone that she is where she is today.  

I first became aware of H.E.R. in 2017 when I heard her duet with Daniel Caesar “Best Part”,” an amazing song from her first compilation EP entitled H.E.R. (which included the EPs H.E.R. Volumes 1 and 2). I instantly became a fan once I heard it. The song “Focus” is a classic and my personal favorite. H.E.R. earned her first two  Grammys for Best R&B Performance for “Best Part” and for Best R&B Album for H.E.R. 

H.E.R. subsequently released her second compilation EP I Used To Know Her (which included songs from the EPs I Used To Know Her: The Prelude and I Used To Know Her: Part 2) in 2019. This project was nominated for several Grammy awards as well. The album was anchored by the smooth ballad “Could’ve Been” (featuring Bryson Tiller) and the soulfully acoustic “Hard Place”.  

In June 2020, as the aftermath of the heinous murder of George Floyd was gripping the country, H.E.R. released the powerful song “I Can’t Breathe”. The song addressed the topic of law enforcements’ treatment of blacks and other minorities, systemic racism and the current political climate. This song clearly demonstrated that there is a message in the music and earned H.E.R. a Grammy as 2021 Song Of The Year. She was also featured (along with Meshell Ndegeocello) on Robert Glasper’s “Better Than I Imagined”, and that song was awarded a Grammy as well for Best R&B Song in 2021.  H.E.R. also contributed to the Judas And The Black Messiah movie soundtrack and her song “Fight For You” won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. In all, H.E.R. has won 4 Grammy Awards, 1 Academy Award and numerous Soul Train, BET, NACCP Image, iHeart Radio Music and MTV Video Music awards. A very impressive list of accolades, considering H.E.R. is still only 24 years old. 

In June 2021, H.E.R.’s Back Of My Mind album was released. It is a solid project that features a wide range of R&B styles, and featured artists include Ty Dolla Sign, Cordae, Lil Baby, Chris Brown, Yung Bleu, DJ Khaled and YG. Back Of My Mind clearly illustrates that H.E.R. is expanding her horizons and growing as an artist. I really like this album, and my favorite cuts are the title cut Back Of My Mind (feat. Ty Dolla Sign). Trauma (feat. Cordae), “Bloody Waters” (gives me that Marvin Gaye vibe) and My Own. 

If you are fortunate enough to live in a city where her “Back Of My Mind” tour stops, you owe it to yourself to witness an amazing musical talent!. For those not familiar with H.E.R., I always recommend checking out her 2019 performance (brief but excellent) for the NPR Tiny Desk. 

Also check out H.E.R.’s stellar performance of “Focus” and “Best Part” on the 2018 BET Awards, with her voice and guitar skills on full display.

Lead Photo Courtesy of RCA Records.