On October 11, over 12,000 Bostonians filled TD Garden to witness popstar Billie Eilish perform the Boston leg of her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” tour, which — fans agree — did just that. On stage for just over 90 minutes, the 22-year-old singer carried her audience through a performance that was punchy, emotional and even a little tear jerking.
After an exciting opening act by brothers Nat and Alex Wolff, roars of anticipation overwhelmed the arena as Eilish began to make her entrance; in the crossfire of lasers and strobe lights, the singer emerged atop a fluorescent cube, where she performed her hit song “CHIHIRO.” Eilish then took the stage with “LUNCH,” the lead single from her “Hit Me Hard and Soft” album, which gained significant popularity on social media.
One of the most notable characteristics of Eilish’s performance, and the album overall, is the dynamic range of genre and styles that listeners experience. Critics from Boston.com comment that Eilish “seamlessly transitioned from one energy level to the next.” Her Boston setlist included hit songs like “What Was I Made For?,” “bad guy” and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.”
An exciting moment for showgoers occurred about midway through the show, during the song “Male Fantasy.” Eilish made the surprising request for total silence in the arena, and took the time to record vocals with her fellow musicians Jane and Ava Horner. Amir Rodrigues-Carabajal (II), another concert attendee, says, “Watching her record and sing live was amazing, even better than I thought it would be, […] not that I had anything but high expectations.”
When asked what their favorite part of the show was, most replied that it was Eilish’s passion and energy that really made the night memorable. Amelie Kassabian (II) agreed that her stage presence was exceptional, saying, “She really engages with her audience and clearly enjoys being there […] She’s not just singing her songs infront of people, she’s singing a story to us.”
Whether it was through her performances of edgy songs like “Guess,” or more heartfelt hits like “BIRDS OF A FEATHER,” Eilish proved her prominence as a storyteller, creative and a friend of Boston, ending the night by telling the crowd “You guys are awesome!”
