Duckwrth ‘All American Freakshow’ at La Bellevilloise: Concert Review

Duckwrth by Emmaline Jeanson

If you’ve ever stepped foot in an alt-house in Los Angeles, chances are you’ve drunkenly eaten at least one unripe orange from a very small, dehydrated orange tree. My mind was transported back to those slightly-unwanted memories as I walked into La Bellevilloise this Thursday, eyeing several potted orange trees whose vibrant hues stood out against the sea of Parisians clad in all black. Suspicious of color in Paris, I remarked that the venue looked “pretty L.A.” to me. So, on December 4th, 2025, I found myself back under the orange trees, in more ways than one. 

In my time living in Los Angeles from 2018-2022, Duckwrth was a household name among Gen-Z. MICHUUL, from his album ‘An XTRA UUGLY Mixtape,’ did numbers in the party houses on my indie college campus, as did ‘Start a Riot’ with Shaboozey from Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. As I walked downstairs at La Bellevilloise, I expected the same version of Duckwrth: suave, upbeat, fast-paced pop-rap. While this description remained true to some extent, the opening songs quickly exceeded my expectations of the limitations of a rap concert. Duckwrth has evolved into a performance artist to be reckoned with. Beyond rap, beyond pop, and beyond punk, he proved himself to be unlimited by genre whatsoever.

Knowing Duckwrth is a South CENTRAL L.A. native, the vibe that he brought to the venue wasn’t surprising. Duckwrth was interactive and intimate with the crowd, encouraging participation from the spectators, which was gleefully reciprocated. Adorned in baggy jeans with star-patches on the knees, a bedazzled belt, a crop-top labelled ‘Vocals’, and a significant amount of chunky silver jewelry, the man looked closer to a rockstar than I had imagined. Most eye-catching, however, was his intricate star-shaped black eyeliner, which graces the ‘All American Fuckboy’ album cover and all of the tour press, truly signifying Duckwrth’s commitment to a punk aesthetic. Surprisingly to me, the Parisian audience absolutely ate this up. In the opening song, Duckwrth announced that the show was sold out, and the crowd roared. Duckwrth said Paris felt like his second home, and the crowd roared again. There was something in the juxtaposition of the Parisian blasé and Duckwrth’s passion and effort that just worked.

With opposites clearly attracting from the audience to the stage, Duckwrth’s first several songs alternated between soulful R&B, bursts of quick-witted rap, and true indie rock. In fact, the band even threw in an improvised ‘We Will Rock You’ beat that the crowd loved as Duckwrth spat lyrics about loving Paris, Parisians, and his audience. It was charming, entertaining, and gave me hope that there may be a growing scene of musicians that dabble in Punk.

By the end of the show, my impressions of Duckwrth were vast. Firstly, it's past obvious that his fan base is very dedicated to the craft and performance he offers. Many of the members of the crowd sported matching star-shaped clothing and black eyeliner, and almost everyone in the packed venue sang every word to every song. Secondly, I was taken aback at my own willingness to put an artist into such a small box. Duckwrth is certainly more than an L.A. indie-pop artist; he is building a career of performance art from metaphorical head to toe. From the costume to the emphatic dancing to the impressively beautiful vocals to the absolutely excellent band (I mean, wow, the guitarist, drums, and the cameo rapper Master Peace were at 100% energy all night), it's clear that Duckwrth takes his craft seriously. This is not a man who skimps on a single element of his art.

In that, I feel no surprise at the fact that Duckwrth’s inspirations are Outkast and David Bowie, three creators who similarly prioritized the emotional intimacy behind Duckwrth’s genre-blurring emphasis on the lyricism surrounding one’s personal life journey toward self-love and acceptance.
At the end of the night, I found myself smiling at the orange trees lining the exit, reflecting on how far we have all come since sitting in someone’s dusty Los Angeles backyard. Perhaps it's not so bad under the orange trees after all. 

Duckwrth by Emmaline Jeanson