The British singer-songwriter Matt Maltese left the crowd pining for more during his grand return to Boston Sept. 20.
His impressive 46-stop tour, named “Tour For You My Whole Life,” after his song “Pined For You My Whole Life,” came to the House of Blues and graced the audience with 19 songs on his setlist, varying from his recent album to older hits.
Maltese is known for his distinctive “baritone” voice and piano-driven songs, which blend indie pop, rock and chamber pop. His songs are rich in relatable and universal narratives around the subjects of yearning, grief and finding personal meaning, with a hint of the singer’s wry humor.
In May, the singer dropped his fifth studio album titled “Hers,” marking a decade since the start of his music career when his memorable debut single, “Even If It’s a Lie (Demo),” was released. The 39-minute album offers a glimpse into his diverse creative nature, featuring a blend of orchestral and jazzy sounds, including traditional piano, strings and woodwinds. In comparison to his previous albums and EPs, “Hers” can be considered his most mature album, in which he demonstrates his growth and vulnerability through his raw storytelling.
Opening for Maltese is Cornelia Murr, who is joining the singer for 31 shows of his tour. She filled the venue with angelic melodies and unique whistles that Snow White would be jealous of. The crowd was so quiet when she sang that they seemed to be in a trance captivated by her ethereal voice and stage presence.
Starting his set with a mellow vibe, Matt Maltese silently entered the stage to sit and play the piano as he began to perform “Always Some MF” and “Buses Replace Trains” from his recent album. His band, consisting of a drummer, bass guitarist and saxophone/electronic piano player, did a wonderful job and played in sync with him to play fan-favorites from three of his previous albums, such as “Curl Up and Die,” “Irony Would Have It” and “Nightclub Love,” which set the mood for the piano-focused show.
The show had only a handful of pink, green, purple and orange lights on him throughout the night, perfectly encapsulating the simplistic yet intimate feeling of his album and overall tour.
Later on, the crowd went crazy with screams and jumps of excitement when the singer announced he would be playing a song he had yet to play on tour, “Studio 6” from his first EP released in 2016.
Right after said song and “Jupiter,” the crowd reacted equally as excited when his most expected song on tour started playing, “As The World Caves In.” The alternative/indie pop artist recreated his iconic piano smash at the bridge of the song, in which everyone in the crowd stared in amusement and cheered. The lights change from a dramatic red to a nostalgic green as the song fades beautifully into “Intolewd” from his sophomore album “Krystal.”
His single “As The World Caves In” went viral in 2020 during the pandemic, when a creator on social media sang a cover of it. The song is incredibly profound and resonated with people across the world in a moment of uncertainty. Maltese narrates about a couple that sits in front of a TV as the world is coming to its end due to a nuclear war, capturing how the intensity of their love causes comfort when faced with doomsday.
As the concert was coming to its end, Cornelia Murr was brought back on stage to perform a duet for Maltese’s songs “Arthouse Cinema” and “Pined For You My Whole Life.” Their voices beautifully blended as the crowd sang along and held onto their loved ones.
As if the night was not perfect enough already, he interacted with the crowd, asking whose birthday it was today or soon, and luckily, a person was selected and brought onto the stage for him to sing his song “Happy Birthday” to them. The person was seated on a chair, given a birthday hat and a candle on a mini frosted cupcake as Maltese graced them with his voice.
The singer then ended the night with an encore for “Cure for Emptiness” and a nostalgic song for long-time listeners, “Everyone Adores You.” In true Matt Maltese style, he made sure to stay after the concert to interact with fans and sign their merch.
Matt Maltese will continue to bring his mellow music across the world for his one-of-a-kind “Tour For You My Whole Life” tour, as it is set to finish in Barcelona Dec. 13.
