by Vy Le | February 2nd, 2025

All images are from Dhruv’s - Private Blizzard Tour Philadelphia, PA on 1/31/25.

The Foundry in Philadelphia was the perfect venue for Dhruv’s The Private Blizzard Tour. It’s one of my favorite venues in the city. The space is intimate and always feels welcoming. The staff is so nice, and I’ve never had a bad experience there. The crowd was a little slow to warm up during Tara Lily’s opening set. There wasn’t even the usual “hello” applause when she came out, which was a bit awkward. Things picked up when someone fainted in the crowd. Tara handled it like a pro, and after that, the vibe shifted for the better.

Dhruv brought a level of creativity and personality to his performance that felt fresh and exciting. He started the show with an audio monologue that set the tone and brought another one midway through the set. It’s a smart way to create a flow between songs. One of the most memorable details was how he brought a clothes hanger on stage, where he hung his blazers and swapped them throughout the night, and it’s honestly the first time I’ve seen something like that. It for sure added an intriguing layer to his performance.

The setlist was beautifully curated. Emotional tracks like “Grieving” hit even harder with the crowd singing along, and fan favorites like “Airplane Thoughts” and “Double Take” had the audience at their loudest. The full setlist includes:

Ode to Boredom
Tragedy
Airplane Thoughts
How?
California Winter
Lonely City Waltz
Grieving
The Morning
Grateful
Daggers
Moonlight
Speed of Light
Illusions
Double Take
One and Only

The lighting at The Foundry isn’t my favorite as a photographer, but as part of the audience, it worked fine. There weren’t any flashy effects, which allowed Dhruv’s performance to take center stage. He made an effort to connect with the crowd, asking us to pick a seasonal song title. Philly chose autumn, and Dhruv said it was the first time anyone had picked that on this tour. His genuine reaction made the moment feel special.

There was also a heartfelt moment when Dhruv talked about a song inspired by his twin sister. Later, he and the audience sang Happy Birthday to a fan, which added a personal touch to the night.

The show ended a little earlier than expected, around 10:00, but it didn’t feel rushed. If you missed this one, there are still plenty of dates left on the tour. Dhruv’s performances are packed with emotional depth and fun surprises. I’d absolutely see him again.