Benson Boone performed at a packed Ascend Amphitheater on Thursday evening, Oct. 17. He gained recent traction from his songs “Cry” and “Beautiful Things” being used in trends on the popular platform TikTok. He has since taken opportunities to perform those songs at the VMAs, The Tonight Show, and more. Boone has been performing on an extended tour for his freshman album, Fireworks & Rollerblades. You may have seen him flipping off pianos or across the stage on social media. Boy band survivor Daniel Seavey opened for Boone. After leaving “Why Don’t We” back in 2022, Seavey began his ever-growing solo career. Although boy bands are rare nowadays, Seavey can give us the experience we all miss from childhood. Opening with his popular song “Can We Pretend that We’re Good,” you could have assumed the crowd was there for him headlining. Taking the stage with just a drummer, Seavey carried his performance all by himself. He even initiated a loop pedal performance of his song “Falling into You.” He even brought out an electric cello, an instrument you don’t see very often. If you haven’t heard some of his new music don’t worry, Seavey still performed some classic hits from his Why Don’t We days, like “Fallin’.” Closing the set with “The Older You Get,” Seavey charmed the crowd and especially warmed them up for Boone.
Boone strutted onto the stage wearing his signature 70s style overalls, but this time personalized for Music City showing a microphone with wings on the back. Opening up with “You & Me & I,” the crowd went wild for his iconic entrance as he did a flip off the grand piano on stage. Cowboy boots aren’t exactly for flips, so Boone made a shoe change after his first flip showing his humorous side by joking with the crowd. If you’ve never experienced the bitter-sweet feeling of losing your voice at a concert, I recommend Benson Boone and his never-ending belt and high-adrenaline performances. Although he gained fame from TikTok, he has truly earned it with his enormous vocal talent. If you have any acknowledgment of how difficult it can be to belt an entire song, Boone has earned the same respect as those in Broadway shows, doing an entire 18-song set in full-out vocals. The album is surprisingly emotionally broad. Listeners can often be blinded by his talent and not listen in depth to the lyrics. The entire show was one emotional rollercoaster with everyone screaming at the top of their lungs. From a sweet dedication and sniffles throughout the crowd to the heart-wrenching song “In the Stars,” to screaming and dancing with their best friends to “to love someone.” Closing out with the hit “Beautiful Things,” Boone did his final and 7th flip and jumped offstage to interact with as many fans as possible in the pit and nearby. From his silly moments to his heartfelt speeches, Benson Boone live is something fans will be thinking about for at least a couple of months, or until their next concert. You can find his music on all streaming platforms, and catch him live on his extended tour dates.
- Joanna Walden
