by Mars Dalys

The Bataclan, a mythical venue in Paris, welcomed Canadian singer bbno$ and his self-described “oxymoronical rap” for a sold-out show on May 20, 2026. After the release of his self-titled album in late 2025, fans eagerly awaited his arrival, excited to experience hits like “1-800” live.

The show started with Bishu, a producer known for his ability to mix genres and for his multi-media content creation, sharing music-related content on Youtube, Twitch, and TikTok. Livestreaming his performance on Twitch with the chat displayed behind him, he kicked off the show with laughter. In between heavy trap music, songs like the Mii theme or Crazy Frog’s “Axel F” played loudly on the speakers, leaving the audience wondering which meme would be next. It could have easily been an over-the-top and unchallenging callback to the tour’s theme, but Bishu showed his ability to merge catchy rhythms we all know with hard-hitting EDM. It resulted in an electrifying mix, highlighting his versatility.

The high and playful energy in the room continued when the second opener, Jungle Bobby, entered wearing a huge pink jacket and sunglasses. He introduced himself as a Love Crusader, setting love not only as a theme but as a guideline for the whole show. Bobby effortlessly controlled the crowd—fans screamed back magic formulas to start the songs, put heart-shaped hands in the air, and even followed a collective breathing exercise dutifully, all without missing a beat. At first, his character seemed extravagant but as his performance went on, we let ourselves be endeared by his antics. Through the collective chants, the room grew more cohesive and the concert truly became a collective experience.

Then came the man of the hour. Bishu and Bobby warmed the crowd up but bbno$’s entrance took the energy to another level. As songs transitioned effortlessly from slower and more emotional ones like “diamonds are forever” to energetic hits like “antidepressants” or “two,” and even to a sad cat version of “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish, the crowd never faltered. The singer, clearly knowing his audience, played every fan-favorite even if it meant setting aside lesser-known songs that would have been nice to discover. I was impressed by his energy level, jumping around on stage and encouraging us to imitate him.

The intimate ambiance of the small room and the sea of dancing fans almost felt like a nightclub at times, and the pulse of live music made it special. The interactions between the audience and bbno$ made the show even more personal: He stopped multiple times to compliment a fan’s drawings, to design a tattoo for another one, and to read aloud a recipe from a cookbook. The show itself was also rhythmed by slower moments, the most memorable one being a guided meditation directly on the screen for fans to follow. It was easily the most surreal show I’ve attended, it felt like a fever dream in the best possible way. And, beneath their random appearance, these pauses allowed the audience to breathe, which was welcome.

The scenography was simple, as we would expect for a 1,500-seat venue, and bbno$ took advantage of the lights and the screen behind him rather than going for extravagant confetti and fire. Tapping right into his Internet Explorer aesthetic, visuals inspired by the older eras of social media played along with his songs. The memes, edits, and wordplay were so elaborate it made me wonder why he hadn’t released them as music videos yet. Even his outfit matched the aesthetic, rocking the Internet Explorer logo as a belt, and decorating his jacket with giant pins of a mouse cursor and the Chrome Dino. At the beginning, he also wore a beret and carried a baguette in honor of Paris, a nice nod which, as a French person, made me smile.

The show ended with unreleased music and the emotional song “why am i like this,” leaving fans with a mixture of energy and nostalgic feelings. His performance lasted a bit over 90 minutes, which is average for a small venue but still seemed quick; I would have liked to see him stay a bit longer. Behind him, the screen teased new music and an animated series as bbno$ left the stage under thunderous applause, promising his return. Overall, the show was a surprising mixture, full of happenings and jokes but also, most importantly, good music. Using Internet Explorer as a theme while also managing to make it catchy was a bet, and bbno$ definitely won it.

bbno$ In Concert: Internet Explorer Never Felt So Alive

Tuner: All Ears on Roher