On Friday, February 21st, I got the chance to see FINNEAS perform at one of the most popular venues in Boston, MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Of the many concerts I’ve seen, this was one of the best, most laid-back, and fun shows I’ve been to in recent years.
Opening Set: Bad Suns
The opener for the show was Bad Suns, a three-piece rock band formed in 2010 from Los Angeles, California. The drummer, Miles Morris, has also been drumming for FINNEAS during this tour. So, he is playing two shows in a row a few nights a week, which is incredibly impressive. While most openers are performing, fans in the audience are talking amongst themselves, eating, and drinking, the Bad Suns lead singer, Christo Bowman, instead got the audience to engage with him. There was a point during their set where he had everyone in the venue take out their phones, go to their music streaming platforms, and find the band’s newest single, “Communicating.” On the count of three, he asked everyone to click on the song at the same time and see how loud and in sync it can be played throughout the venue. Although it didn’t quite work out as planned because of connection and internet issues, this was an interesting and fun experience for fans. Not only was it engaging, but it was a genius marketing tactic to promote their new single, which they then played right after the experiment.
Additionally, Christo took a video on his phone introducing Boston and the crowd at the venue. After he took the video, he mentioned that the video would be posted on the Bad Suns Instagram page later that night. Yet another great marketing tactic to drive traffic to their Instagram page to see the video, and maybe even get a pretty good handful of new fans that followed them and their music.
Headliner: FINNEAS
FINNEAS is a one-of-a-kind performer. Coming out on stage in an all-black suit, and his deeper, monotone voice, he captivates the audience through different vocal ranges and in-depth storytelling throughout his show. Throughout his setlist, he had every type of vibe you could think of. Flowing through his set with slower ballads, to more upbeat tunes, it allowed for his audience in seats around the venue to stand up and sit down as they pleased. It also made for a great mix of having fun, jumping, and relaxing to just listen to the music. As he effortlessly rotated from playing his guitar to the piano where he had a glass of wine waiting for him, everyone in the crowd was screaming along to the lyrics of each song he played. Not only is he great at captivating everyone’s attention, he has created an environment at his shows where everyone is comfortable and everyone is having a good time.
He had the perfect mix of interacting with the audience and moving through his setlist. He even told some stories to keep the crowd engaged and to show a bit of his naturally funny personality that many know. One that he told was how much he loves coming to Boston. His uncle lives in Boston so growing up, he, his sister – Billie Eilish – and their parents would travel from their hometown of Highland Park in Los Angeles, California to Boston to visit about once a year. He told the crowd, as you are when you’re younger, he had a weird obsession with Paul Revere. Everyone laughed.
He also mentioned that the hotel he was staying at in Boston on this tour, The Liberty, used to be a jail. He went on, with his comedic-self, saying how he noticed how proud the hotel was about it and really leaned into the fact that their building used to be a prison. On that note, he ended the story saying “I think I would’ve liked it more if I didn’t know it was a jail.” Finally, he mentioned that the day before, when the band and team arrived in Boston, he was walking around the city. He and his band ended up spending two hours walking around on a frozen lake in Boston Common in incredibly brisk weather. A fun, but cold way to spend an off-day.
Coming from an incredibly talented family, FINNEAS has all the attributes you wish to have in a live performer. He is a genius when it comes to writing and producing music, but also an incredible live performer who wants everyone in the crowd to have a good time. Having toured with his sister, Billie, for most of her career, this is the first time he is not by her side on her HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR. As an amazing artist, performer, and overall human being, I urge everyone to see FINNEAS live in concert at least once in their life if you ever get the chance. You will appreciate the way his storytelling and live vocals make you feel, as you’re standing in the room with him and his dedicated fans. You won’t regret it!
