Rising alternative-pop darling sombr brought his wistful lyrics and dynamic vocals to the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, Arizona for a performance that reshaped longing into bliss. The young singer flawlessly set the stage for an energizing night headlined by Daniel Seavey on his ‘Second Wind’ tour.
sombr
At just 19 years old, Shane Boose, better known as sombr, is quickly solidifying his position as the industry’s next indie heartthrob with immense musical talent to back it up. Joining Daniel Seavey as an opening act on the North American leg of his ‘Second Wind’ tour, the young singer was the best possible pick to warm up the droves of increasingly passionate fans that had been waiting for this night to come. His cool, level-headed stage presence was an instant hit with the crowd from the second he took the stage at 8pm.
Joined by a full band that was fully dressed in black tie attire, the group could have passed for a celebrity and security entourage in any other setting. As sombr gripped his microphone, the crowd held their breath, completely captivated by the ambience of irresistible mystery that surrounded the young singer and drew all eyes to him. Having only just discovered him in the last few months through his feature on Rachel Chinouriri’s “All I Ever Asked”, I had very little idea of what to expect coming into the show. Needless to say, I was blown away by his performance. With a setlist composed of various singles from throughout the last few years, including early hit “Caroline”, his new group of fans were given the best sample of his discography.
Tracks like “do i ever cross your mind” showcased the slower end of sombr’s range with a light, otherworldly production that lended itself well to his mellow vocals. Lines like “When you lay awake at night, do I ever cross your mind?” flowed through the room with grace, riding the wave formed by the hypnotic riff being played by his guitarist. Recent releases like “back to friends” and “undressed” got their moment to shine later in the set as the singer aimed to end his performance on a high-note. The punchy melodies of both of these songs made it clear that sombr is effectively a vocal powerhouse when he wants to be. Given the slower pace of the earlier portion of the set, the sudden uptick in energy drew a surge of cheers from a crowd that was only growing livelier with each passing minute. In the moment, it was easy to forget that sombr himself wasn’t the headliner given how easily he commanded the stage. If one thing is certain, it’s that sombr is destined for a long, widely beloved career as a performer.
Daniel Seavey
By the time Daniel Seavey’s set arrived, the crowd was absolutely buzzing, still riding the high of sombr’s spectacular set. The former Why Don’t We member-turned-solo artist effortlessly worked the stage and often stepped onto the barricade to lean over the first few rows of fans in the pit. As he ran through numerous songs off of his recently released debut album Second Wind, it became joyfully obvious that Seavey was just as excited and having just as much fun as his fans were. Between both sets, it was a night that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
