boygenius – Palladium, Cologne; August 16th, 2023

Seeing boygenius in Cologne was absolutely fantastic. Their music is great, the audience was wonderful and I smiled all the way through. What a great night that was!

Sometime last year (I think) I stumbled across boygenius via Phoebe Bridgers’ Twitter, bought the album, listened a few times and then got tickets when the tour was annouced, because I had really enjoyed Phoebe’s show last year. Didn’t have any idea who Julien Baker and Lucy Dacus were and never researched them before the concert. I just knew I was going to like it.

As usual, public transport didn’t function on the way to Cologne and I arrived much later than planned to long lines. Once the door opened hese moved surprisingy quickly and I scored a nice upstairs spot. So far, so good.

Support Muna started before 8 and they were so much fun to watch – lots of movement on stage, lots of jumping and generally good vibes. I enjoyed their music a lot and was surprised how many people in the audience were singing along. Everyone was so into it, it already felt like the main band of the night. It was lots of fun and even though I didn’t know any of their music, they really drew me in. For the final song, boygenius joined them on stage. It was a grat way to start the evening.

Setlist

What I Want
Number One Fan
Stayaway
Runner’s High
No Idea
Taken
Home by Now
Anything but Me
One That Got Away
I Know a Place
Silk Chiffon (with boygenius)

It was about a 45 minute wait until the lights went out again and Thin Lizzy’s ‘The Boy are back in town’ was being played, indicating the start of the show. The band appeared on the screen at the back of the stage, standing in a corridor and singing ‘Without you, without them’ a capella. Only after this first song was finished they walked out. I was not prepared for the amount of joyous screaming that greeted them. I had thought the audience was loud and enthusiastic for Luna, but this was next level. it put a big smile on my face.

From then on in it was one wild and wonderful ride. Julien, Lucy and Phoebe seemed in a great mood, the band was brilliant and the audience celebrated them all the way. I forgot that my back ached and that at times it felt like there wasn’t enough air to breathe. None of that mattered, because the music was so good.

Every song sounded great and it seemed to me I was the only person in the audience who did not know every word and sang along. It was such a joyful celebration of music and life. From time to time they mentioned what the songs were about or communicated with us otherwise. Some of the fans had given out different colored paper to cover our phone lights with and the band thanked us when these colorful lights came on. It must have looked so good from stage.

they interrupted the show twice to make sure people in the back got water, because with a sold out show it was really crowded and probably very hot downstairs. They played songs from their EP and the album ‘The Record’ and each of the band members played one of their own songs. I don’t know any of the songs well enough to sing along and some I didn’t know at all, but that did not make me enjoy the show any less. I was just happy to be there.

A lot of people where filming and before ‘letter to an OLd Poet’ Phoebe asked us all to put our phones away, because otherwise  the song would be hard for her to do. Everyone complied. It was awesome and created a very special atmosphere.

During te evening it had been mentioned a few times taht it was Phoebe’s birthday the following day and during the encores, after ‘Ketchum, ID’ Lucy and Julien lead us in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ for her while the members of Muna brought out a cake. Said cake lead to a food fight and ended up in everyone’s face with pieces of it thrown into the crowd for good measure. It was hilarious.

They played one more song afterwards with Julien joking about her now sticky fingers. it was the perfect ending to a perfect show, which clocked in at about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Needless to say I could have listened to them for much longer, but left happily, filled with positive energy. This may be surprising, considering their lyrics, but it was truly a feel good show. 😀 I truly hope I’ll get to se them again soon.

Setlist

Without You Without Them (performed from backstage)
$20
Satanist
Emily I’m Sorry
True Blue
Cool About It
Souvenir
Bite the Hand
Revolution 0
Stay Down
Leonard Cohen
Please Stay (Lucy Dacus song)
Favor (Julien Baker song)
Graceland Too (Phoebe Bridgers song)
Boyfriends
Me & My Dog
We’re in Love
Anti‐Curse
Letter to an Old Poet (Phoebe asked everyone to put their phones away)
Not Strong Enough

Encore:
Ketchum, ID (followed by ‘Happy Birthday’ singalong and early birthday cake for Phoebe with Muna on stage.)
Salt in the Wound