The air was thick with anticipation and fans were anxiously checking their phones waiting until the moment singer-songwriter, Benson Boone, would step on stage at The Vic Theatre. Once the house lights dimmed and a collective cheer of 1,400 fans erupted, fans knew this show would exceed all expectations. 

Unlike other artists who ignite their shows with a raging bass beat or a high-energy song, Boone takes a different approach. Instead, he walks out on stage with a calm confidence directly to his piano. With the first few gentle notes of “Intro”, a song off of his debut album Fireworks and Rollerblades, he sets an intimate tone inviting his fans into his world for the first time. 

The “Slow It Down” singer’s setlist contains songs from all over his catalog including songs from his EP, Pulse, and even his debut single “Ghost Town”. While performing the sixth track off of Fireworks and Rollerblades, “Forever and a Day”, Boone takes a moment to lead the crowd in a chorus of “ahhs” before seamlessly transitioning into the bridge of his song. The audience’s participation created an intimate moment that amplified the performance of the song. 

Throughout the show, Boone consistently expresses his gratitude for his fan’s support while also engaging with fans in between songs. Before performing the eigth track from Fireworks and Rollerblades, “Drunk In My Mind”, Boone engaged with a fan asking if they have ever had an ex. When the fan answered “yes”, Boone playfully decided to refer to the ex as “Jon” rather than using the fan’s ex’s real name. He then adapted some of the song’s lyrics to reflect the fan’s relationship with “Jon”, adding a personal touch to the performance. 

The Washington native is known for one standout feature during his performances: his impressive back flips. Before Boone comes on, sometimes fans even try to guess how many flips he will do at a show. However, even a broken toe did not stop Boone; he did six flips.

Before performing his final song of the night “Beautiful Things”, Boone once again thanked the crowd for their unwavering support. He continued to share how “Beautiful Things” has changed his life and how if he did not pursue music, that he would be an architect. The audience’s cheers and applause filled the venue, creating a heartwarming ending to an unforgettable evening. 

Being a fan of Benson Boone since the very beginning of his career, I found it mesmerizing to see the support he is receiving from fans, not only in Chicago but around the world. A few of my favorite songs that he performed at his show were “The Greatest Fear”, “There She Goes” , “What Was”, and of course “Ghost Town. Even though I love all of these songs, an all time favorite will forever be “Sugar Sweet”. 

If you ever get the chance to see Benson Boone perform, do it. I promise you will not regret the time spent being in the audience watching him do his insane backflips and perform the songs that he loves.