Dominic Fike transfixes with raw, intimate set and introduces his baby son: Lollapalooza review

Dominic Fike had arguably the best surprise guest of the entire Lollapalooza weekend (or at least the cutest): his baby.

In a tender bit at the end of the set, Fike played a child’s musical instrument onstage for the infant, who wore giant headphones presumably to block noise. He then scooped up the baby and walked backstage as a camera trailed behind. For fans who maybe didn’t realize Fike was serious when he dropped the lyric “I’m a baby father” in Jennie’s song “Love Hangover,” the moment cued the water works.

It was the perfect culmination of a performance that was purposely intimate and dialed back.

“It’s been a while since I performed any music,” said Fike, who canceled his Lolla appearance last year due to health reasons. Admitting he was nervous for the day’s performance, Fike told the crowd he wanted to “slow it down and take a deep breath. … I know that’s not normal for these events but I want you to be here with me, and I want us to connect.”

He dove into a rawer, softer side, even performing a cover of Coldplay’s “Yellow” during which he referenced the recent “CEO stunt” involving the jumbotron kiss-cam incident. The music star is known for his role on HBO’s hit “Euphoria” (he’ll be returning for season 3). His Lolla set felt like a merger of the two personas, symbolized by the “comedy” and “tragedy” flags that hung from the stage.

Fike performed with the same intense realism he brings to the screen, making it easy to lock in with him as he ran through bluesy takes on “Babydoll,” the folky acoustic pop of “Frisky” and the fast-paced alt-rap track “How Much Is Weed?”

He also unveiled a couple of new songs, “Great Pretender” and “One Glass;” the latter tapped into the “older demo-y stuff” that Fike said he used to make. “When I started, I was listening to Weezer and the Chili Peppers and Pixies and made songs in my room on a laptop. And now I get to play them in front of people,” he shared. “It’s funny how this sh-t blew up.”

Curiously though he didn’t play the song that really did blow up: “3 Nights.” But in a set that transfixed the crowd, perhaps no one noticed.