Following the release of her long-awaited album Scenery, Emily King is currently finishing up her 2019 tour, with Boston as her third to last show.
King’s opening artist, Jennah Bell, left the audience speechless with her performance. Bell is a Berklee alumnus, which made the Boston show extra special for many of the audience members. Jennah is a singer-songwriter originally from Oakland, California. Her influences are pulled from genres such as folk, soul, R&B, hip-hop, and bluegrass. Her quirky yet fluent style of writing is both compelling and easy to listen to. Her lyrics will hit you hard, and her melodies will leave you wanting more. Not only is Jennah a monstrous musician, but her presence has a surprisingly unique calmness to it. I had the pleasure of speaking to Jennah after her set, and she shared some encouraging words with me without hesitation.
Considering that I had never seen Emily King perform live, I had no idea what to expect from this show other than the fact that it was going to be great. King opened the show with her song “Remind Me,” the first track on Scenery. The moment King strutted out on stage in a show-stopping two piece black outfit with matching sunglasses, I knew this show was going to be one I would be talking about for a while. Her energy was infectious, and everyone in the audience was jumping and dancing around from the moment the song started. Between the tasteful choreography and the tight connection between the band and background vocals, it was impossible to keep your eyes off of the stage. There was entertainment at every moment, and King did not miss one note, even when she was running and dancing around the stage.
The set was perfectly crafted. There was a combination of fun upbeat songs, slow intimate songs, new and old ones. Emily made sure there was a song for every type of fan in the audience. King’s powerhouse sound was supported by four musicians and two background vocalists. Each playing a unique and crucial part of the overall sound and success of the show. I was curious to see how the live arrangements of the songs from Scenery were going to replicate the studio album, considering its intricacy. To my surprise, I couldn’t find any differences. Every little detail that was in the record was projected in the live set. I think besides Emily’s striking dance moves, this was one of the most impressive aspects of the show.
The show, of course, ended with a highly requested encore. King closed her set with “Georgia,” one of her most well-known songs. The song left the audience in a positive state of mind and wanting more.
If you haven’t yet, I would highly suggest giving Emily King’s infectious new album Scenery a listen!