Review: David Archuleta gives liberated ‘hometown’ performance in Salt Lake City

In the second verse of his highly personal song “Hell Together,” musician David Archuleta shares that he’s afraid of letting go of the version of himself that he “used to know.”

It’s been over a year since he released the track that marked a significant change in his music. The song chronicles his journey of coming out, his mother’s reaction and her subsequent decision to step away from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If Archuleta’s Friday night show at The Complex in downtown Salt Lake City is any indication, that lyric might ring a little less true these days.

In what he called his “hometown show” on his “Earthly Delights Tour,” Archuleta, at long last, came into his own.

Only one word can describe his Friday stage presence: liberated.

It’s apparent in his vocal range, which has always been impressive, but also in the way he moves — with a steady confidence as he dances alongside two backup dancers. His certainty made the performance shine.

The stage setup was nothing extravagant, and it wasn’t needed, since Archuleta carried the show, bathed in a background of neon lights. For just over an hour, he seamlessly navigated note changes and octave shifts like a card player with an excellent hand.

“Earthly Delights is about finding the pleasures of life,” he told the crowd, and about feeling all of the “things that I was afraid of feeling before.”

The show’s setlist included a combination of songs from his new EP and longtime fan favorites, differing only slightly from the tour’s opening date two days prior in Arizona. It was separated into three sections, bracketed by voiceovers of Archuleta speaking.

Each section featured a different outfit. The first was joyful — featuring nostalgic throwbacks and more recent bangers like opener “Dulce Amor.” Attendees danced alongside Archuleta and recorded themselves singing to songs they grew up with.

When Archuleta asked if there were any “OG Archies” in the room, the crowd’s response was deafening.

The second section, featuring songs like “Crème Brulée” and “Can I Call You,” was more sensual, with a playful cadence of songs that brought Archuleta to life. This section also offered moments of stillness with ballads, while the third and final section was upbeat.

Before performing “Hell Together” around halfway through the show, Archuleta told the crowd the backstory of the song and dedicated it to his mother, who was there.

“I came out as queer four years ago, I’d never thought I would do that,” he said.

The crowd cheered loudly throughout the speech, flashing Archuleta the American Sign Language sign for ‘I love you.” Many couples embraced each other.

After he finished the song, his mother, Lupe, joined him on stage. “I just told my daughter over there that we are loving hell,” she said, with a laugh before coming back to the crowd.

Another moving moment during the show was when Archuleta performed “Home” while sitting on a stool, letting the ballad ring loud in the venue.

Before performing a cover that fit in perfectly with the rest of the setlist, “Pink Pony Club” by Chappel Roan, Archuleta told the crowd, “I never thought I’d love life this much and have this excitement to live.”

He ended it with the song that started it all, “Crush” but reclaimed it in a new way — shirtless, dancing and free all at once.

The show was the culmination of Archuleta finally allowing himself to simply be. And because of that, he’s never been better.

“Thank you for your support all these years,” he said in closing. “I love you, Utah.”