Bucket List: Go to a Concert at the Iconic House of Blues

The House of Blues after the concert.

Even though I've lived in the Boston area for years, I never got a chance to go to the iconic House of Blues until this Saturday. James Blunt was the perfect performer to introduce me to this location, as his combination of simple talent and fresh wit mirrored the attitude of the House of Blues. Before going to the HOB, I knew this concert destination for bringing talented, unique, yet popular, performers to Boston, and joining together communities of music-lovers. With a heavy focus on music, James also made sure to make the concert personable and just an all around good time. Here, I look at some highlights of the night.

Opening Song:


I thought his opening song was a perfect choice for him. It captured his soulful musicality well, and allowed him to slowly build up the energy of the concert.

James Blunt's Concert Presence:

I really liked that James Blunt made an effort to move around the stage, acknowledging all audience members. He was clearly sweaty (he constantly had to take breaks to use a towel to wipe his face), but kept on moving around. Since I was sitting just a few rows back from the front, I was actually able to get a really good look at him, and I appreciate that he tried to reach out to as many fans as possible.

This video also shows that in addition to a really nice voice, James clearly has amazing guitar skills (and piano skills as he demonstrated later on). That kind of musical talent was really impressive to me; I never knew that he was such a well-rounded musician.

Throwback Moment:

James Blunt is most well-known for his song, "You're Beautiful," and that fact was evident in the uproar when he began singing this song. He didn't put any particular emphasis on this song; as you can see, he sung it rather simply. I liked this choice, for even though I mostly knew him because of this song, I got a chance to give his other songs an equal chance. I can now say that I'm not just a fan of James Blunt for "You're Beautiful," but for just being a great musician.

Favorite New Song:

This song, for example, has to be my new favorite by James Blunt. "Postcards" really brought out the playful side of his personality, which is often forgotten because of his slower, more melancholy popular songs.

Encore:

I didn't entirely understand the theme of his concert. He spoke a lot about the military, but was dressed in spacesuit-like get-ups. Nevertheless, his willingness to act like a kid —complete with costumes—on stage was refreshing.

Favorite Performance:

"Bonfire Heart" is one of my all-time favorite songs, and James Blunt performed it amazingly. He got everyone clapping throughout the song and singing along. Because "Bonfire Heart" was the second to last song, it created a really good vibe to draw the night to a close.

Favorite Aspect of House of Blues:
I attempted to take a picture of the stage, but failed miserably. Instead, here is a picture I found online. The scenery of this location really illustrates the message they are trying to get across: bringing together people of all races, religions, etc. for a shared interest in music. And that's a sentiment I can fully get behind.

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The disco ball was pretty cool too.

Overall, I was super happy with my experience at the House of Blues. I'm glad I finally got a chance to go; I understand now why it's such a Boston landmark. Even though most people at the concert were over the age of 40, I really enjoyed feeling united— even just for a couple of hours— behind a love for James Blunt. The HOB also allowed me to see another side of this well-loved musician, and I think the concert location's ability to bring out the human side of its often distanced performers is really unique. Having been to many previous concerts, I can really say that I know James Blunt better than I did those other musicians.

DC