Most people associate singer Halsey with The Chainsmokers and their collaborative song called “Closer.” I am here to tell you that there is so much more to her than that catchy, overplayed song.
Her concert on Friday at Boston’s TD Garden was my second time seeing her and it was such an amazing experience to share with my friend. My friend and I arrived to the concert late so we missed the opening acts, but Charli XCX and PARTYNEXTDOOR played.
Halsey played a total of twenty-two songs from her first album, Badlands, and her recent album, Hopeless Fountain Kingdom. It truly amazes me how she is able to pack in so many songs and perform so well the entire time. What I love most about Halsey’s concerts is the fact that she moves around so much and truly engages with the audience. For example, when she played “Lie” and “Don’t Play,” she ran through the crowd to a small stage in the center of the arena. Her performances are interactive and energetic and she is able to show off her outstanding vocals the entire time. She also went into the crowd to hug people and connect with her audience during the song “Is There Somewhere.”
A big difference I noticed between this concert and the first time I saw her perform was the stage setup. Halsey played at Boston University’s Agganis Arena the first time I saw her and the stage was pretty empty, except for some scaffolding-type structures. At TD Garden, the stage was a staircase. Halsey constantly moved around the stairs, but what made it even cooler was the fact that images and videos were projected on them.
Another important point to bring up regarding Halsey is how personal she gets. She is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community. Halsey never fails to promote equality and empower women. She conveys her messages not only through her songs but also through the personal stories preceding certain performances. She gets on a personal level with the audience and everyone in the room can feel how genuine and grateful she is.