The Boys Are Back: Night 2 for boygenius at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway

Written and Captured By | Adriana Arguijo Gutierrez

Swaths of black blazers and white button-ups waited parallel to MGM Music Hall at Fenway on Tuesday night (September 26, 2023), signaling the much-anticipated second night in Boston for boygenius’s 2023 fall tour. The city’s newest music venue welcomed close to 5,000 fans for a night filled with unity, artistry, and love. 

American indie rock band, Palehound, opened for boygenius with a lively 45-minute set. The band, comprised of queer and trans musicians, expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to support boygenius’s fall tour, as well as the importance of advocating for LGBTQ youth. 

See more photos of Palehound HERE

Before boygenius hit the stage, Jean-Luc Pierite, the president of the North American Indian Center of Boston, took the stage to recognize the Massachusett and Pawtucket territory within which MGM Music Hall resides. It was a meaningful gesture that set a tone of respect and inclusivity for the evening.

As the crowd eagerly awaited the band’s performance, the lights dimmed and the iconic “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy played over the loudspeakers. All three members of the supergroup — Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus — opened with “Without You, Without Them,” which was performed from backstage while a live feed played on screen. 

“Without You, Without Them” was followed by “$20,” with Bridgers, Baker, and Dacus finally taking the stage and greeting the crowd with bright smiles. “Satanist” followed, with fans passionately singing the lyrics back to the band. With moments like these, it’s hard not to become a fan if you weren’t one already. My respect for their artistry and camaraderie is through the roof after witnessing it for myself; Their reverence for the craft and their stage presence is truly awe-inspiring. 

See more photos of boygenius HERE

Visually, the show was nothing short of invigorating. From the immersive stage lighting and Phoebe Bridgers’s humor between sets to Lucy Dacus’s divine vocals and Julien Baker’s signature hair flips mid-guitar riff, it’s hard (if not impossible) to capture a bad image or video of ‘the boys,’ as fans refer to them. 

Between the initial set and the encore, each member of boygenius took the opportunity to showcase their solo work, adding depth and variety to the performance. Lucy Dacus sang “Please Stay” from her 2021 album Home Video, Julien Baker sang “Favor” from her 2021 album Little Oblivions, and Phoebe Bridgers sang “Graceland Too” from her 2020 album Punisher. It was a true testament to their individual artistry, as well as the great admiration the band members hold for each other. 

Towards the end of the show, boygenius unveiled a new track, “Afraid of Heights,” after recently having announced their upcoming EP titled The Rest. Following this was the encore — a culmination of the evening’s emotions. “Ketchum, ID” and “Salt in the Wound” left a lasting impression with their fervent melodies lingering in the air long after the final notes had faded. As Baker played her guitar solo in “Salt in the Wound,” Bridgers and Dacus hopped off stage to stage-dive over fans in the most joyful of finales. 

See more photos of boygenius HERE

boygenius delivered a night of musical magic and meaning at MGM Music Hall. They not only showcased their incredible talents as a band but also their commitment to inclusivity and looking out for one another.

Photos By | Adriana Arguijo Gutierrez