If you had access to a CD or an MP3 player in 2004, there's a good chance that Back to Bedlam wiggled its way into your life, possibly even by force. Well, after James Blunt's performance last night at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, those tracks are going to be back on repeat. “You’re Beautiful” was everywhere. You couldn’t escape it, and truthfully, I never wanted to. I was in college (I suppose I am dating myself), and Blunt’s songs were a part of the soundtrack to that part of my life. If you were anything like me, you didn’t just listen to it; you lived it. I had that album on repeat, constantly, to the point where I can probably still sing just about every word in order, no skips. It was a full-on emotional roller coaster. It’s a masterpiece that wrapped honesty and beauty into something that felt like it was made for late-night crying over a girl or a long solo drive with eyes full of tears. Either way, it ended in tears.
Long before “You’re Beautiful” saturated us all, James Blunt was just some ex-British Army bro with a guitar and a whole lot of feelings. He served in Kosovo, witnessed war firsthand, and somehow transformed all that into this incredibly vulnerable debut album. This album was raw with honest storytelling set to melodies that hit way harder than you'd expect. Blunt was quickly written off by much of the media as a one-hit wonder and a pop gimmick. Critics, and there were many, often dismissed his emotional vulnerability as insincere, reducing his work to a meme before memes were even a thing. I learned a lot watching his documentary ‘One Brit Wonder’ on Netflix. It’s a must-see for anyone that is remotely a fan and gives a lot of insight into his career and life.
I played that album like it was therapy. I probably owe him some money that insurance won’t cover for my time on the couch, expressing my emotions and trauma. Songs like “Goodbye My Lover” and “High” felt like they understood my feelings. I memorized every lyric and let the whole album become the soundtrack to a version of myself that was still figuring life out. Even now, I still think Back to Bedlam is a top 10 album in my opinion.
With all that being said, I have no idea how I never ended up at a Blunt concert. I finally had the chance to walk into his concert 21 years after that album drop, and I knew that to hear those same songs live was going to be surreal. When I saw Blunt’s “Back to Bedlam 20th Anniversary Tour” was hitting Boston, Massachusetts, at the MGM Music Hall, I knew I had to be there to experience this and see if Blunt could perform live like he has performed on his albums. I wouldn’t be lying if I said I had tissues packed into my backpack in case the feels hit. I was ready.
I can’t sing enough praises of MGM Music Hall at Fenway. I absolutely love coming here. MGM Music Hall is definitely as state-of-the-art as it can get for a concert venue. Located right next to the iconic Fenway Park in Boston, across the street from another great venue, the House of Blues. Parking, I will warn you, is terrible in that area. If there is a Red Sox game that day, give yourself plenty of time, as it will be chaotic. The Hall opened in 2022, and although fresh on the music scene, it has held some pretty massive performers. I have seen many shows here, and the list is vastly growing with household names and new emerging artists. The cap is around 5,700. The place feels intimate and large at the same time. When I am down in the pit area, the space seems massive. The acoustics alone are worth seeing your favorite act here. The stage itself is very large and allows for a very elaborate production to be set up if an artist desires to utilize the space.
Kicking off the night was Forest Blakk. I admittedly hadn’t heard of this artist. My wife, on the other hand, knew him. Apparently he blew up on TikTok. His song “If You Love Her” was everywhere. Never ended up on my FYP. I ran into him on the street prior to the show, and we had a chat. He was a very nice guy, and we talked about Boston and how it has a place in his heart. He is a genuinely appreciative guy. When the first note left his mouth, I knew this guy had the potential to strike it big. What a voice. This man could sing. I overheard and spoke with a few people outside the venue that knew who he was and were just as excited to see Blakk as they were Blunt. Blakk gave us 45 minutes of a soothing voice that just made you want to sway back and forth. I hope nothing but the best for this guy going forward. He has a new fan, and he and I deserve to strike music gold.
Fans were mostly on the older side of the Millennial Generation. I knew this wasn’t going to be a rowdy bunch of concertgoers, nor is the music genre geared towards hype and energy. I was surprised this wasn’t a sold-out show. The venue had the top tier of the seating section blacked out. I am guessing Monday had a lot to do with it, unfortunately. If you didn’t head out to this concert, you truly missed out. This man’s voice is seriously one of the softest and sweetest voices in the game. The way he hits his high notes so effortlessly is soothing to the ears. His bandmates are no slouches either. They were spot-on. I closed my eyes multiple times, taking the music in, and I felt like I was back in 2005. I didn’t cry, so the tissues stayed in the bag. That is the takeaway. As emotional and nostalgic as this show was, I kept it together. It was an amazing experience.
The crowd, despite being smaller than I wanted or expected it to be, wasn’t short on the cheers and singing alongs. Everyone that was there knew that album. It felt like we were at a campfire having a little powwow. Every person in attendance was vulnerable to an emotional night. We all knew what Back to Bedlam meant to us. We were all in the same boat. At any moment we could all start crying with joy and flashbacks. Guess what? It was overwhelming to some, and they let it out. Proud of them working through perhaps past failed relationships and trauma. “Goodbye My Lover” was played solo on the piano, and wow, was that an experience. Talk about purity. Just a man with a piano and a powerful voice serenading his fans. I thought I was going to lose just by feeding off the energy of the crowd. I love being in a venue and having a shared experience with others. It’s a time where we are all in it together. We have come to one place to share in a moment that cannot be duplicated anywhere else. Fans singing in unison made it an everlasting memory. I was proud of that crowd.
Make no mistake—as dramatic as the performance was, Blunt came packed with jokes. Apologizing right from the start about his foul language. Blaming it on being British. They cut the tension in the room after being leveled by an emotional tearjerker. Blunt would go on and tell stories about the writing process and creation of some of the songs. Blunt made jokes about fans being “sickos” for having “You’re Beautiful” as a wedding song. Stating, “I wrote that song while I was high and stalking a girl on public transportation.” It was a lighthearted moment. The self-evident “High” was written about, well, you guessed it, being high. A funny moment was Blunt explaining the song “Wiseman” and how it talked about having a “semi by the sea,” referring to an erection. He stated he was 15 when he wrote it and that child services should have been called. At times during the performance, I felt like it could be part comedy show. The attendees needed that to slice up the melodramatics of the concert. Jokes continued as he asked the crowd of men if they were forced to be at the show. That was the running joke of the night. Blunt joked that he wouldn’t be at a James Blunt show either unless he was being paid, which he said he was.
Despite being the Back to Bedlam tour, Blunt did play his later hits after running down the track listing in order. If you thought his jokes were through, you’d be wrong. After “No Bravery,” the last track from the over 10x Platinum album, he let the “forced” crowd members know they could go home now since the album was over. No one left. They wanted more, and we got more. Blunt would go on to play 10 more songs. Tracks like “1973,” “Bonfire Heart,” “Monsters,” and “Carry You Home.” As soft and beautiful as this show was, “So Long Jimmy” went hard. The electric guitar with added distortion gave us a more rock-and-roll vibe that had the audience dancing. I came in expecting a mellow, laid-back show. My Apple Watch let me know I was in a loud environment multiple times. I was also in the back of the crowd when this was taking place. It was a loud show despite the type of singer/songwriter music we were getting. The roar of the fans also assisted in the loud environment alerts buzzing on my wrist. Blunt is very underrated in my opinion, and his live performance only supports that theory.
As I said earlier, everybody that missed the show because it was on a Monday night truly missed out on a unifying experience. You missed true, honest, heartfelt music. If anyone is like me and waited 20 years to see Blunt live, I beg you to not make the same mistake as me. Get out and get your tickets. It’s a show that shouldn’t be missed by anyone, let alone if you are a fan. The band, the production, and Blunt’s voice will make for a night of an emotional rollercoaster. Go buy your tickets...now.
