White and purple lights blasted from the top of the stage at MGM Music Hall on Oct. 9 as rising pop star, Gracie Abrams, took the stage. Her visuals for the first song incorporated a mirrored video of the star’s lips mouthing the lyrics as Abrams sang, a motif in her branding. The tour kicked off after the release of her fourth album, “The Secret of Us.”
Abrams’ music is a sort of soft pop, characterized by her breathy vocals and emotional lyrics accompanied by acoustic guitar or piano. Her work is introspective and relatable to many people, and therefore her relatively recent popularity is no surprise. Fans at the concert clamored for a spot as close to the stage as possible to get a glimpse of the star.
Fellow up-and-comer ROLE MODEL opened up the show, bringing high-energy guitar pop beats to the stage in anticipation of Abrams’ show. ROLE MODEL, the stage name for lead singer Tucker Pillsbury, lit up the house with white and orange lights as he danced across the stage, playing hits like singles “Scumbag” and “The Dinner” off his second album, “Kansas Anymore.”
His songs, especially recent ones, have a distinctly country element to them in their focus on acoustic guitar and accompanying banjo beats, while retaining a pop element in his style of singing. Pillsbury sported jeans with a white jacket over a white t-shirt and a Red Sox cap, having the best time with a wide grin on his face.
Wearing a laid-back pair of dark pants and a loose red sleeveless shirt, topped by the classic dark blue with a red “B” Boston Red Sox cap, Abrams was at first obscured by the bright lights above her when she stood on the stage risers, which let her voice and guitar playing speak for themselves.
When she revealed herself the crowd erupted in cheers, the pit crowding forward to catch further glimpses of Abrams, sporting her signature colors of white and yellow and the classic Abrams bow hairpiece dotting each of their heads.
Abrams, after a few songs, spoke to the crowd directly. She thanked the crowd for coming to her show and expressed earnest and sincere gratitude for their support throughout her tour.
She emphasized the place that the city of Boston holds in her heart, and how she wanted to make this show special as her tour was drawing to a close. At the time, Abrams had a single tour date left, in Portland, Maine.
Another element that made the Boston show stand out was that it was ROLE MODEL’s last show with Abrams. The singer brought her opener out to share a song with her in commemoration and thanks for his time touring with her. The bond between the show was evident as they shared a hug on stage, and Abrams gifted him flowers and a plastic tiara, which he jokingly donned over his baseball cap.
Abrams incorporated two “surprise songs” into her set, meaning the artist picks any two numbers from her discography not on the official set list to play at each show. This practice is a nod to fellow pop artist sensation Taylor Swift, who also incorporates surprise songs into her “Eras Tour” shows. Abrams also previously opened for Swift during most of the American dates of the tour.
Her choices for Boston were “That’s So True,” her currently unreleased new single, and “Augusta” from her 2021 album “This is What it Feels Like.” The latter song mentions Boston in its first line: “Feel like maybe I might go to Boston” showing her audience the care with which she chooses the numbers to include depending on the city she is playing.
Abrams has a particular knack for connecting with her audience during live performances. Her candid and stripped-down demeanor felt palpably genuine as she spoke about her life, her work, and later on in the show, about voting.
Her tour has partnered with the organization Headcount which had a booth where audience members could register to vote. She appealed to her audience to make a plan to vote, emphasizing its crucial importance in this upcoming election.
She also has partnered with Planned Parenthood during her tour to raise money and awareness about reproductive rights. She explained that both causes are incredibly important to her, and she was grateful for the opportunity to work with them.
Her show included a two-song encore, ending the night with the online sensation “Close to You” from her new album. The audience screamed the lyrics alongside Abrams, jumping up and down during the chorus.
Abrams understands the kind of concert her audience wanted, the kind they needed. She knows the key to a good concert is creating a connection with fans on a distinctly human level, speaking to their hopes, fears, and worries through her heartfelt, sad but still pop, music.
