Canadian singer-songwriter Lauren Spencer Smith stopped by a very sold-out House of Blues Boston on February 21st in support of her new album, THE ART OF BEING A MESS. Even the freezing weather couldn’t stop fans who camped outside the venue for hours, wrapping the line down Lansdowne St. and Brookline Ave., the longest line this author has seen at the House of Blues. Guests sporting Spencer Smith’s signature braids quickly scurried into the warmth of the concert hall.
The night began with the ethereal Maisy Kay, who floated out in a lacey periwinkle sequined dress, waving her bedazzled butterfly mic in the air. During standout tracks “Vantablack” and a cover of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep,” she delivered silky vocals that mesmerized the crowd. The room fell to a hush when Maisy Kay dropped to her knees and hit an effortless whistle tone vocal solo. Next up was bedroom pop artist Sadie Jean, who smoothly transitioned the vibe from sparkly to intimate. She captivated the crowd with relatable tracks like “Slow Burn” and “WYD Now?,” showcasing her aching vocals. She twirled around the stage in a draped black dress with pink crushed velvet flower appliques, occasionally grabbing an acoustic guitar for ballads and once picking up a drum stick to cathartically hit a cymbal during the track “Move On First.”
Fans screamed every word to the preshow playlist, foreshadowing the passion to come. Songs like “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo and “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams kept the energy high between sets. Soon after, members of the crew unveiled exciting set pieces, including a bus station stop with a “sad girl on a bench” tissue box, a payphone, and a stacked white platform. The lights flashed as the booming bassline to “IF KARMA DOESN’T GET YOU (I WILL)” reverberated around the venue. Spencer Smith skipped out in an Akira leather bomber jacket, thick silver chains, and waist-length quadruple braids. She dove right into the track, belting powerfully along with the crowd while waving to fans between lyrics. She smiled ear to ear after seeing that the energy she poured into this project was returned tenfold by the audience. A particularly touching moment was when a young fan in the front row was bawling their eyes out while singing along to “Bigger Person.” It was a reminder of the healing power and connection of music. During tracks like “WORSE” and “small,” Spencer Smith visited the payphone to talk to a recording of her best friend and later her younger self on the other line, transporting the venue to her inner circle and thoughts. The singer held the audience in the palm of her hand. Toward the end of her set, she did a triumphant cover of “Happier Than Ever” by Billie Eilish. She returned for a two-song encore, closing out the night with “Sticks & Stones,” before stepping off stage for the final time. Make sure to catch Lauren Spencer Smith live before The Art of Being a Mess Tour ends in March. Buy tickets here.
Check out all of Samantha’s photos from the show below.
