On the primary night time of Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” tour cease in Chicago, Chanté Stepney, daughter of famed producer Charles Stepney, and her son Eddie Stepney-Anobah skilled a whirlwind of emotion, artistry, and pleasure—all wrapped in golden mild and thunderclouds. The night time started with foreboding skies and an unforgettable street signal that learn: “Even Cowboy Carter wears a seatbelt.”
Chanté vividly remembers the ominous feeling within the sky, a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. The climate was clearly on the verge of a storm, but there was a peaceful earlier than the musical storm as they drove to Soldier Subject.
Eddie added, “And just like the juxtaposition, as a result of after we first awakened, it was 62 levels, and after we had been driving there, it was 90 levels.”
Regardless of the chaotic climate, the journey to Soldier Subject was easy. “So after we obtained there, we parked, went to the north storage, and had been fairly near getting within the North Gate. So that each one labored out properly,” Chanté famous. The group, full of anticipation, was handed wristbands for the Beyoncé mild present simply earlier than an announcement got here: shelter in place. The endurance and pleasure of the group had been palpable.
The group, although quiet and unsure, stayed in good spirits. Eddie described strolling round and assembly folks whereas they waited. “It was enjoyable. I like speaking to folks. Everybody gave the impression to be actually hyped about the complete expertise. So many individuals got here from out of city. It was hilarious ’trigger folks had been all like, oh, I didn’t count on the climate to be this unhealthy. And I used to be like, you aren’t from Chicago for actual.” This shared expertise, this sense of neighborhood, was palpable within the air, connecting everybody within the crowd.
After a two-hour delay, the group was ushered again inside. “All people was hype. All people sat patiently. Tremendous nice crowd,” Chanté recalled. What adopted was a efficiency marked by meticulous element and gorgeous visuals. “One factor I used to be speaking to a man round me, you talked about the costumes. I’m an enormous fan of Miss Tina. It is simply formed properly. And as a former dancer, I do know it held properly,” she defined. “Nonetheless, it’s developed through the years, however simply the craftsmanship and the eye to element.”
Past trend, Beyoncé’s signature perfectionism captivated the viewers. “The lighting, the tech, the costumes, the dancers, the electronics, the consequences—this stage of perfectionism… was simply appreciative,” Chanté mentioned. “It’s simply actually a deal with.”
Then got here the emotion. Eddie recalled, “I used to be crying so much… On the finish of the track River Dance, she had a Black singer doing a type of river dancing. I used to be crying, bawling my eyes out as a result of I used to be having a kind of moments like, “Oh my goodness, Black individuals are so enjoyable and Black individuals are so good.” He continued, “I assumed it was a ballerina… Proper? For Blackbird. That was like actually tearing me up. I obtained into that bizarre parasocial factor the place I used to be bawling my eyeballs out.”
For Chanté, watching her queer son witness Beyoncé’s magic for the primary time was deeply significant. “As a mother taking their queer child to their first Beyoncé live performance… it was thrilling for me to look at as a result of his response was, ‘Mother, we’re such an exquisite, stunning folks.’”
She praised Beyoncé’s consistency in honoring Black historical past and upcoming Black expertise by way of her vignettes and visuals. “She does these little video vignettes in between every track. One was devoted to the Blackbirds, all of the previous Black singers. One was devoted to how dare you do nation, referring again to how Black folks do have foundational roots in nation music.”
The presence of Beyoncé’s kids, notably Blue Ivy, added one other emotional layer. “You might really feel the legacy and the passing of the torch… particularly with Blue. Blue could be very a lot an expert dancer,” Eddie mentioned.
Chanté continued, “Simply to see her in comparison with the final tour… she’s gonna be loopy off the chain subsequent yr. This was clearly the yr of the Golden Jubilee. The horse was gold, the costumes had been gold, and the lighting had been gold. It was completely stunning.”
One standout second for each was in the course of the efficiency of “Daughter,” when Beyoncé wore a large projection robe. “It was attractive simply to see how they put these lights on the costume,” mentioned Chanté. “Quite simple, straightforward, however for me, a robust second.”
Eddie appreciated how Beyoncé structured the present for all audiences. “There are homosexual folks, and there are additionally going to be 50-year-old Black ladies… and he or she accommodates that.”
From costume adjustments to Blue Ivy’s solo second, the present was designed with stability and brilliance. “The hive is in impact,” Chanté mentioned. They’re all very outgoing, chatty, and dealing the hell out of their costumes.”
Even the climate performed its half. “It was tremendous windy… however as soon as she began, it heated up and was fantastic,” Chanté mentioned.
Because the night time got here to an in depth, the expertise lingered with gratitude. “Thanks, guys. We owe you. We actually do owe you,” mentioned Eddie.
For Chanté and Eddie, the Cowboy Carter Tour in Chicago was a reminiscence etched in gold—storm-tested, deeply felt, and completely unforgettable.