Medium Build Showed North Carolina It’s Ok to Have Never Learned to Dance

On 03/24/2023, Medium Build played to a sold-out crowd at the Cat's Cradle Back Room. 

The Atlanta-born musician effortlessly fuses his R&B, Folk, and gospel roots to produce songs for music lovers everywhere. 

After opening for Briston Maroney during the final leg of his Sunflower tour last September, Nick Carpenter- the face behind Medium Build endeavored on his Health and Wellness tour to support his newest EP Health, which came out at the end of January.

The show opened with the whimsical Zinadelphia. The 22-year-old Philadelphia-based artist played an entirely acoustic set with an instrumental encore thanks to her skillful yet playful use of the kazoo. With a small published discography, she played an array of unreleased originals like ‘Eulogy,’ ‘Cosmos,’ and ‘Underdog.’ The bittersweet singles about breakups and relationships before their end were paired beautifully with her smooth vocals reminiscent of Amy Winehouse. Through this performance, it’s clear that she has a genuine love for music and excels in performing it live.

After Zinadelphia’s set, Medium Build took the stage with big blue glasses, a Braves Jersey,  a teal trucker hat that was quickly replaced by a fan’s cowboy hat, and an arsenal of music ready to fill the venue.

He opened with a lead single from his Health EP titled ‘Gimme Back My Soul’- The painfully effusive single paired with Carpenter’s guttural vocals are truly transcendent of his studio recordings. 

From the moment he stepped onto the stage, a special energy flowed throughout the entire venue. Fans felt it, and Carpenter did as well, so much so that he mentioned it a few times throughout the show. His show included comedic interactions with fans, sweet conversations with Addie- a seven-year-old girl who praised the live show with her loving remarks, and an incredible stage presence that few musicians can encapsulate.

It was clear that the entire crowd was captivated by Carpenter and his performance while on stage. During songs like ‘I Like Cherry’ and ’99 Corolla’ fans yelled every single lyric without missing a hitch, and with more emotional songs like ‘comeonback’ and ‘Rage,’ there was passion alive everywhere- like during ‘Rage’ when fans took a minute just to scream together. Screaming about all our woes, hardships, and all the things we needed to let go of. There were other songs like ‘Misery’ and ‘Chubby’ where fans just stared in awe at Carpenter’s music. It was indeed a cathartic yet mesmerizing experience.

Most of the show’s attendees are living testaments to his stage presence, with a large majority having seen/discovered him when he opened for Briston Maroney last September. His performance clearly changed how we view live music, so much so that his show was quickly sold out.

Zooming into a more local lens, Medium Build has quite a special connection to North Carolina- Carpenter’s initials are NC. His entire life, he wore UNC merchandise as if it were explicitly made for him, and in the case of the Carrboro show, he received a UNC shirt specifically made for him. A few songs into the show, a fan threw up a sweatshirt that read “UNC x Medium Build” filled with photos of him in UNC merchandise and photoshopped ram horns- although he did confirm he is an App State fan in a post-show interview.
He played many songs, ranging from his 2018 EP softboy to his 2023 EP Health. We were able to take a trip through his discography, from his r&b roots to his newfound woodsy folk sound. Throughout the show, there were memorable moments played entirely on his electric guitar and with the help of his lifelong friend and collaborator Paul, who played additional guitar and piano.

Also included in his set was a short encore of unreleased songs, including one titled ‘Chubby,’ which was an ode to his little cousin who was in the show's crowd that night. The single about the insecurities of being young and learning to live and grow with them brought the crowd to tears and was genuinely one of the most gut-wrenching songs I have ever heard.

Medium Build is in the early stages of his Health and Wellness tour, which he will continue for the next few weeks. It is a show you honestly do not want to miss! If you are, however, unable to catch him on this tour, he will be opening for Lewis Capaldi during his North American tour in April.