Benson Boone visited Glasgow on 30 October to perform as part of his American Heart Tour. Glasgow was his fourth stop on the European leg with plenty more shows to follow. I was lucky enough to secure tickets for this and have no regrets in doing so. The American singer certainly knows how to put on a show.
First, I want to mention the stage design and its layout. The design was spectacular and fitted in with the feel of the album perfectly. My seat was further up, almost at the very back of the OVO Hydro; however, due to the layout, featuring a long runway with a heart shape at the bottom, I was able to see the entire show with no issues or restrictions whatsoever.
The performance was kicked off with a video to get the crowd going, and I was blown away by the effect of that. The atmosphere when he first came out on stage was surreal. Benson sings all of his best hits including Mystical Magical, Beautiful Things and I’m Sorry I’m Here For Someone Else. What surprised me was he also played some of his older songs for fans that have been there since the beginning, this was a heartwarming touch to the setlist.
Health Concerns for Touring Artists
During the concert, Benson gave us all a scare by stating that he had “a sore throat and was struggling with his voice”, but he continued as he never wants to have to cancel a concert. There weren’t many times during the night when you would be able to tell he was having a hard time, apart from when he reached the final few songs. Unfortunately, he was starting to lose his voice a bit, but he still put on a cracker of a show, and I cannot fault him on his vocals.
Due to his voice struggles, Glasgow did not get a surprise song, which is understandable. He did make up for it in other ways and remarkably came out in a gladiator costume during his encore at the end of the show. I feel that it is important to touch on the importance of singers’ health and why it should be taken more seriously. Benson has been performing multiple shows in a row, which isn’t feasible in the long term. This causes artists to become exhausted and worn out, which means they can’t always perform at their best; however, he still soldiered through and gave us an unforgettable show, and I commend him for doing so, as I can’t imagine it’s easy.
The Opening Act
Honourable mention to the opening act Elliot James Reay, I knew little about him going in but can safely say I left as a supporter. His vocals were out of this world, and I could see the resemblance to Elvis that I’d heard of. He had the crowd dancing and ready for Benson Boone while also throwing out a few dance moves himself. I suspect he will go far in his career.
Overall, my experience was a 10 out of 10 and I couldn’t fault any part of the concert. Both acts were born to be performers and exceeded my expectations. Benson had the crowd roaring all night and was an unforgettable artist to see. I can say I will definitely be back next time he appears in Glasgow.
Featured image credit: Morgan Duffy