The crowd trickled in as anticipation filled the air at Brighton Music Hall Friday night as young fans awaited the entrance of Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis. Older fans came out to see Lewis, as well, and were sprinkled amongst the younger audience. Purple lights filled the darkness of the crowded room.
The North American leg of up-and-coming musician Lewis’ 2018 tour goes from Toronto all the way to San Francisco. As his music reaches more listeners, he’s now able interacting with fans spanning across oceans.
Before the start of the concert, a long line of people waited outside for their turn to get into Brighton Music Hall. Soon enough, the place was jam-packed with fans. The range of ages in the audience proved Lewis’ music reaches a diverse group of people.
At around 8 p.m., Lewis welcomed the crowd as they erupted in cheer and welcomed him to Boston.
A lot of anticipation had built up leading to the singer’s show as the audience moved around the music hall, excitedly waiting to see the pop rock singer from down under perform.
Though at first he had a nervous dynamic when he began to sing, the atmosphere in the music hall felt light and fun and allowed Lewis to comfortably settle into his place in front of the crowd.
He quickly got into the groove of singing and apologized for his hoarseness due to performing consecutive shows on the road. However, even with a hoarse voice, Lewis sang with ease.
Lewis performed “Chemicals,” a song from his debut EP “Same Kind of Different,” which showcased his strength as a singer and songwriter.
He adeptly switched from playing the piano to the guitar as he shifted from song to song. From the pleasant strums of his guitar to the melancholic sound of his piano, Lewis captured the crowd with his songs full of aching and betrayal.
The lyrics of his songs were heavy-hearted and sorrowful, but they were well received by the audience.
In “Half a Man,” a song dripping with emotion and the feeling of brokenness, he sang, “But how am I supposed to love you / When I don’t love who I am,” and immersed the crowd in his story of self-destruction and love.
The themes of his songs are hard to tackle, and they’re ones that aren’t heard often in mainstream music. Lewis found a way to weave them into melodious and compelling tunes.
Lewis’ voice filled the room and gave warmth to what was a cold night. As he performed his hit single “Be Alright,” the energy in the room soared and his skills as a singer shined through impeccably.
The performance revealed Lewis’ voice isn’t much different from that of his recorded album and from his live performance. It’s a feat many artists strive for and have issues with, but Lewis performs just as beautifully as he does in his recorded album and leaves little room for disappointment.
It was evident that Lewis gave his all when singing, which was especially apparent with his hoarse voice that developed from his intense tour schedule. He gave his fans a performance they would remember.
His emotional connection to his songs was visible throughout his performance, and the lights behind him changed colors in relation to the themes of his songs.
If it was a more upbeat song, the lights would be a brighter color, but for slower, melancholic songs, the lights would be a dark blue. This helped in setting the mood and accentuating his performance.
His latest single, “Be Alright,” was released in June, which became number one across Australia and was certified platinum in a matter of weeks. It was popular among his fans in the audience as they sang along word-for-word.
The song deals with the pain of having to let go of a loved one and delves deep into the heartbreaking process of moving on despite not wanting to. It’s a catchy and meaningful tune that attempts to make its own mark in the long history of songs about heartbreak.
Lewis’ performance time was short, and the audience was left wanting more. His performance was truly promising and proved Lewis to be a rising and talented singer worth his salt.
