LIVE REVIEW + PHOTOS: Khalid @ House of Blues 08.06.17
When the 19-year-old from El Paso, Texas released “Location” on SoundCloud, it became be the song that launched him to the next level. Khalid released his first album “American Teen” in March of 2017 and announced the much anticipated tour in May.
Originally scheduled at the Paradise Rock Club, Khalid’s August 6th Boston show was moved to the House of Blues to accommodate a much larger crowd. The crowd was energetic even before the doors opened at 7. The line stretched around down the block in the shadow of Fenway’s Green Monster. Many fans had arrived early to make sure they were in the first couple of rows.
After the doors opened, a DJ that played for just over an hour to get the crowd even more hyped. Around 8 the lights went off and the beginning alarm sounds of Khalid’s “American Teen” opened up the show and he was joined by two dancers in cheerleader uniforms with visuals of the American flag being displayed on the screens in the background. The imagery was perfect complement to the song. He kept the crowd energy up by transitioning into “Let’s Go” which talks about life after graduation and just enjoying life. Another crowd-pleasing message.
Khalid then brought things down a notch choosing acoustic versions of “Saved” and “Therapy” that capitalized on the crowd’s energy and the fact that everyone knew all the lyrics. He covered “Silence” by Marshmello, a song in which he is featured and he kept his energy up through the closer of the show “Location” complete with multiple dancers and the crowd singing back to him the lyrics. The encore to Khalid’s first headlining Boston show was “Young, Dumb and Broke” during which confetti fell and the crowd chanted for more long after the song had ended. At only 19, Khalid has the stage presence and energy of a seasoned professional and it’s clear he will be doing bigger things in the future.
