The line wrapped down and around past the end of the wall outside of Agganis Arena as thousands of eager fans waited anxiously to burst through the doors. The cold Boston air on Oct. 20 was not nearly brisk enough to subdue the rambunctious mob of high school and college students who waited for 2018’s newest boy band sensation: BROCKHAMPTON.
As the main lights finally darkened and the stage lights illuminated, the boys of BROCKHAMPTON came running out to their hit song “NEW ORLEANS” which was the first track off of their album “iridescence.” As the song concluded the band’s frontman Kevin Abstract, a rapper and singer from Texas, stepped forward to begin the band’s introductions announcing to the crowd in his best “mumble rapper” impersonation, “Yo, it’s ya boy Kevin A.” To which the exuberant fans responded with tremendous applause and adoration.
The group just scored its first No. 1 album “iridescence” within a year of signing its first ever record deal with RCA. Composed of 13 members which include rappers from Texas, a pop singer from Northern Ireland, one braggadocious Ghanan MC, the group contains a diverse mix of other contributors such as producers and web designers.
The band took short breaks to talk about themselves and showcase their personalities, which were a highlight of the night for the fans. They often did this right before jumping back into their head banging hits, urging people to form mosh-pits in their sections of the packed crowd. The floor section had to be barricaded into two seperate sections to prevent people in the back from crushing people towards the front of the stage. The energy in the building was electric.
They did have a method to their madness, however, as they would often alternate between their more provocative raps and more somber rhythm and blues ballads. The large number of diverse group members allowed the band to perform a wide variety of songs that spanned across several different genres. When it came time for Bearface, a pop singer from Ireland, to sing one of their slow sing-alongs such as “BLEACH,” it seemed as if not a soul in the stands wasn’t belting their hearts out.
To close out their set the group saved their ode to home, “SAN MARCOS,” for last. The song title pays homage to the town in Texas where the group first came together and officially became BROCKHAMPTON. The normally four minute forty-six second song seemed to last ages, as the music was cut off and Kevin Abstract put the mic to the crowd and the audience proceeded to repeat the chorus endlessly.
The song’s chorus, which says “I want more out of life than this, I want more, I want more,” rang throughout the venue as the crowd showed no signs of stopping. Just as quickly as BROCKHAMPTON came, they were gone. The Boston crowd erupted into applause, not wanting the night to end, demanded through their chants that the boys come out for one more song.
Happy to oblige the band came back out to perform “BOOGIE,” a song from one of their earlier albums, and set the crowd on fire one more time. Leaving the venue there were boys and girls alike with tears streaming down their faces and others running around shirtless, still electrified from the show.
BROCKHAMPTON came out and performed for a fervent Boston crowd that was more than happy to host them for a wild night of rapping, singing and rambunctious fun.
