REVIEW: Miguel with Jean Dawson: Live at Coca-Cola Roxy - ATL
- Mikey Smith
- 2 minutes ago
- 2 min read
CAOS comes to Atlanta in full swing with Miguel's opening night of his 2026 tour
At long last, R&B superstar Miguel made his return to Atlanta last Tuesday at Coca-Cola Roxy with a sold-out show, opening his CAOS Tour with a bang. Maximalist production and thrashing guitar riffs mix perfectly with the singer’s timeless voice for a night that fans won’t forget.
The show started off with opener Jean Dawson, a musician who’s been praised for his work in experimental pop and rock in years past. Recently, he’s been embracing the sounds of 80s rock and popstars with heavy inspiration from artists such as Prince. A majority of these new songs soundtracked his opening set. Dawson’s style has always been able to reach a range of listeners, but this prioritization of new tracks particularly worked wonders with the Roxy’s crowd. Whether a longtime listener or entirely new to Dawson's work, the audience was entranced by his various vocal inflections and hypnotizing sound.
When headliner Miguel’s CAOS Intelligence Agency car appeared flipped upside down onstage, fans did not know what to expect from the opening night of this new era's tour. Luckily enough, the sounds of the artist’s latest record resonated with the packed ATL house. The album, played nearly in full, killed in a live show experience. The palette choices for the aesthetics and vibes of the project were on full display through the red lights, hazy atmosphere, and dominant guitars.
The setlist, of course, also featured some of Miguel’s biggest hits from over the years. 2012’s Kaleidoscope Dream had prominent representation in the set with the crowd singing along to tracks like “Adorn” and “How Many Drinks?” along with other favorites throughout his discography including “Sky Walker.”
The iconic vocalist never wasted a chance to express the support he felt from Atlanta. Both him and Jean Dawson acknowledged being Black Mexican-Americans, with Miguel spray painting “ICE OUT” on his CAOS car set piece. The headliner described a “different kind of love” shown to him by our city, especially in light of the current state of affairs in America.
Closing the night with classic “Sure Thing,” Miguel left Coca-Cola Roxy in love with his world. His undeniable voice ensures that these songs remain timeless for die-hard and casual listeners. Impressive all around, be prepared for the singer another sold-out show during his next ATL appearance.
Article and photos by Mikey Smith. Please credit @mts2.photo or @art.seen.atl if reposting on social media.