No Phones, No Media, but Only A Few Left Anyway
No Phones, No Media, but Only A Few Left Anyway
Pouya + Fat Nick - Jannus Live, St. Petersburg, Florida
Only A Few Left Tour
11/16/2025
Words by Caitln (Caity) Tuel
5m Read
I originally was unsure if I was going to be at this show this evening. It’s a no phones, no media show and those may not be my forte, but it just felt like I shouldn’t miss this one. I’m quite glad I didn’t miss out on this experience. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time phones have been locked up in the pouch format at Jannus live. While this is a common tactic used in the entertainment industry, I was so pleasantly surprised to see how well it worked this evening, even coming in a bit late to the venue. We know I love Jannus Live with my heart and soul, we know I love a themed cocktail just as much, so a double whammy? Delightful.
The air was a bit nervous between everyone at first. It was the obvious “we/re so disconnected from our usual realms of reality” (yet about fifteen years ago it really was just an idea for the future) for quite a minute at the beginning, but by the time Fat Nick had nearly ended his performance, everyone was so sucked into the music, as they should've been from the start. You’re still able to make friends without a phone, kids, trust me. We did it years ago we can do it again now. I did it that night! Proof in the pudding, y’know?
It is always so much fun for me to see Nick, as I had spent much of my life in south Florida (561 representing over here!) he’s always someone folks in my circles have seen, enjoyed, and adored. And I always have too - he was always a huge part of the soundtrack to my high school years, and I appreciate seeing his art on bigger stages. His performance was an absolute blast up until the end, and it made me really figure out what the focus of this write up was about, culminating in using your platform to perform and to pay tribute to those you have lost and loved throughout your time.
And that’s something I’ve always adored about All But 6 Records and those who are signed to it. Nearly every show I have seen, if not every show I have seen by their performers have been to a phenomenal degree within performance and production but it strikes a nerve for those grieving. Nick asks permission of the crowd to perform “Songs from a friend I lost nine years ago yesterday”, and I lost any composure I possibly had. Gustav (Gus) Elijah Ahr, more aptly known as Lil Peep, or simply Peep, had just celebrated nine years without being earthside. One of the most monumental losses across the globe, and the community misses him deeply. I miss the old Orpheum and I sit on my high horse about it because it was one of the last places he played a performance at before passing away. Regardless of detail and my beef with a venue, it was the most magical thing to see lighters up and about and to hear Star Shopping and Beamer Boy through Jannus’ sound systems, and I’ve never felt closer to strangers while in tears. There is so much gratitude within Nick as the crowd weeps and sings to his friend’s music. I wonder if it felt as bittersweet to him as it did to me. It was the only point in the evening I was angry I didnt have a phone in my hand to capture, but it will sit with me forever, and assuredly, that is the point.
As always, Pouya puts on an incredible and energetic performance and I adore him and alternative-hip-hop artists at Jannus, because the stage is big enough to account for as much or as little antics as required, and it’s perfect for Pouya who goes edge and end to end to account for everyone in the crowd. I love when artists do this, and I love seeing him perform. I love seeing my Grey/6 community, so many folks there were also at the skate park only a few months prior. Pouya will always be a can’t miss artist in my world.
It feels a beautiful part of life to be in Florida and know that the artists saying they love it here mean it. Thank you to everyone who has shared a stage with my state, local or not. I appreciate you forever.