I had the honor of covering Ella Mai’s Do You Still Love Me Houston tour stop at Smart Financial Centre, and safe to say that one of R&B’s beloved artists is, and always will be, here to stay.
The last time I saw Ella Mai live was back in 2023, at her Heart On My Sleeve Tour, which happened to be the last time she released a full album, the Heart On My Sleeve (Deluxe Edition). Three years later, and it’s still one of the most memorable concerts I’ve ever been to. She had performed at a smaller venue, Warehouse Live to be specific, and what made the concert so enjoyable was how intimate it was. It was one of those concerts that everyone in the building knew all the words to every. single. song. Though the iconic Houston venue no longer stands in the heart of Downtown today, at the time it held up to around 1,600 people. Fast forward to August 5, 2026, Ella Mai performed in front of up to 6,400 Houston R&B lovers at Smart Financial Center.
At 9:30pm on the dot, the curtains opened to a beautiful greenscape with Ella Mai herself sitting on a chaise lounge chair, much like the one on the cover of her latest album Do You Still Love me? I was already impressed with how her and her team brought her album cover to life through the set design – even the backup singers’ mic stands were wrapped in green vines to match the outdoor theme. There’s nothing that I love more than an artist who goes all in into their worldbuilding.
The first song she sang was “There Goes My Heart.” What I loved about this opener is that despite this being one of her more chill songs, it was a fantastic choice to open the show with because you got to hear her clean, crisp vocals. An incredible introduction to who she is as an artist, a vocal and lyrical powerhouse, but also to introduce her new sound and album to set the tone for the night. It was then followed by “100,” one of my personal favorites off of the new album, “My Mind,” and then 2 songs from her 2024 EP 3, “Hearts On Deck” and “One Of These.”
One thing about Ella Mai is no matter what show she plays, you will get a throwback song, guaranteed! One of her most notable songs, “Shot Clock,” made an appearance about a fourth way down the setlist. The rush of excitement I felt when I heard her sing this song live back in 2023 came back in full force at this show. What I love about Ella Mai is that she knows how much her fans still love these songs, and because of that, you can see and feel her joy while performing it. That said, it’s not an Ella Mai show without “Boo’d Up” or “Trip,” which she played towards the end of her set. By sandwiching in her most recent album in between some throwback hits made for an incredible setlist. Her giving us a taste of her old music, playing her new songs which offer up a different vibe and sound, to closing it off with iconic throwbacks, makes her shows enjoyable for everyone. There’s something for both old and new fans.
She ended her show with “Little Things,” another song off of her 2024 EP, 3. Closing the night off with a song that bridged the gap between her older music to her newer sound made her show feel complete. It served as a reminder that yes she has new music out, yes her old songs are still hits, but it’s that in between 3 era that made it come full circle, especially for those that tuned into her EP during her time out of the music spotlight. Throughout the night, Ella was incredibly appreciative of the fans who have been there through each era, expressing her gratitude for those that have been anticipating this most recent release of Do You Still Love Me? This concert made it very clear that no matter where Ella Mai goes, her fans and supporters will always be there.
So to answer your question, Ella… Yes, we do still love you and always will!
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