Boys Like Girls kicked off Halloween weekend in New York City with their Speaking Our Language Tour. The show, which was hosted at Hammerstein Ballroom Manhattan Center, had a stacked lineup with incredible supporting acts from Senses, LOLO, The Summer Set, and State Champs.
Each supporting act set the bar higher, with energy and cheers flowing throughout the three-floor venue. By the time Boys Like Girls was set to come on, the crowd was buzzing with excitement and ready to release the energy they’d flooded the venue with.
The first time I saw Boys Like Girls was at Bamboozle Roadshow ’09 – fifteen years ago… I found myself excited to see how the band had developed over the years and I am happy to say this show was probably one of my favorites of 2023.
The set began with drummer John Keefe having the spotlight on him. Each member of the band came out one by one until lead singer Martin Johnson stepped onto the stage and began their show with SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS. Johnson, who also plays rhythm guitar for the band, smoothly transitioned into the nostalgic classic, Love Drunk.
The band engaged with the crowd by intertwining classic Boys Like Girls tracks into the setlist, like Dance Hall Drug and She’s Got a Boyfriend Now, with their newer ones like BLOOD AND SUGAR and LANGUAGE.
After Up Against the Wall, the band hit the show with a medley, combining I Told You So, Kill Me In A Record Shop, Thunder, and Stuck in the Middle. One of my most vivid memories of Boys Like Girls in 2009 was when it had started raining during Thunder – ironic, no? Hearing it again sent chills down my spine as the crowd illuminated with cellphone lights throughout the floor and balcony.
As the medley continued, including songs such as “Heart Heart Heartbreak” and “Miracle,” fans were jumping and dancing around. Some even released their excitement and energy through crowd surfing, while others started small pits throughout the crowd. I also can’t forget their cover of The Outfield, which took the crowd to the next level. As the night was reaching an end, the band brought out all the stops, playing another medley with Broken Man, Vindicated, and Life of the Part and Faith.
The energy around the venue was at an all-time high as the band brought out lead singers, Brian Logan (The Summer Set)and Derek DiScanio (State Champs) to perform their recently released remix of The Outside. The remix also includes 3OH!3 and The Ready Set, two of Boys Like Girls’ openers during the first half of the tour.
After The Outside, Martin looked out into the crowd and announced that there would be no cellphones present for the last song. “You guys got your videos,” Johnson exclaimed and fans cheerfully obliged. The Great Escape was one of the most amazing moments to see live – there is something that honestly leaves you in awe when you see an entire crowd living in the moment, no cell phone in sight. They added a snippet of Love Drunk, their opening song, to the end of the song and fans cheered loudly as the band thanked New York and lights slowly went dark.
Fans chanted for an encore, and the band came back to grace us with one more song, “Two Is Better Than One,” which was a heart-warming night’s end.
As each audience member left the venue, you could find them clamoring in excitement about the show and singing some songs outside as groups and pairs headed home.
After 18 years, Boys Like Girls have proven their commitment and dedication to their music and growing as a band. Each band in the lineup helped keep the momentum going, with cheers getting louder after each set. Boys Like Girls is definitely a band that you will want to see live at least once.
Be sure to be on the lookout for their next tour, and check out their most recent feature with TWICE, down below:
