Bleachers took the sadness out of Wednesday night June 17 at MGM Music Hall, thanks to their 2026 “Forever Tour.” The performance marked the end of what frontman Jack Antonoff called a “magical two night stand” in Boston.
First to take the stage was the opener Hovvdy. The Texas-based duo incorporated country sound in their indie-pop foundation. It was refreshing hearing classic country characteristics without the bland lyrics that typically accompany the genre.
Hovvdy was a great appetizer for the concert attendees, which they managed without singing about pickup trucks, blue jeans and beer. They prepared the audience for a night of high energy and good music, emphasizing that they were no strangers to crowd work with effortless humor.
After Hovvdy’s performance, it was immediately clear how elaborate Bleachers’ set was. Stage crew members began setting up the props, so it was ready for the band at 8:45 p.m. Between hanging portraits, an antique camera, sprawling wires and a tall tower reminiscent of something you’d see in a hardware store, there was always something to look at.
Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” was the indicator that Bleachers would soon take the stage. The build of that song perfectly accompanied the audience’s growing excitement for the band’s entrance. As the song came to a close, each member took their places one at a time. The last was frontman Antonoff as he scaled the tall tower to kick off the night with their song “sideways.”
As each song faded into the next, it was clear Bleachers knows how to bring the energy. Being in that music hall felt like Antonoff and the saxophones had the whole city of Boston dancing.
The band was completely in control, effortlessly bringing the energy down for the more solemn songs like “Isimo” and “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call,” and bringing it right back up for hits like “dirty wedding dress” and “upstairs at els.”
The clear highlight of the night was during the song “Rollercoaster.” Antonoff implored audience members to get on top of someone’s shoulders. The result was a crowd of euphoric people, having the time of their lives while the perfect up-beat summer anthem touched every corner of the venue.
The order of the set list was masterful, particularly the tail end following “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call.” The intense drive of the last bunch of songs created a complicated emotional mix of being eager to hear what is next but not wanting the night to end.
The final song was “Stop Making This Hurt.” It was the best choice to prepare audience members to reenter the real world as they walked back through the MGM doors. Lyrics like “Say goodbye like you mean it,” forced fans to face the show’s conclusion while also soaking up and savoring the last song.
Despite the glowing remarks, one disappointment of Bleachers’ Forever Tour stop in Boston must be noted. The way the band performed was nothing like hearing its discography on any given streaming platform. In reality, it was so much better. Hearing Bleachers live surrounded by the Boston community transcends any kind of listening experience you could have in your room or in your car with the windows down. I only regret that hitting play on Spotify will never make me feel the way I felt in the MGM Music Hall pit June 17.
