Multi-platinum American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin charmed the audience at his sold-out 12 Notes Tour show at Prague’s ARCHA+ on Thursday, March 27. Known for his vulnerable lyrics and earnest delivery, Benjamin has been called a “pop storyteller” by TIME Magazine. His songs are vivid reflections of his real-life experiences, and he writes from an honest, heartfelt perspective that’s injected with a healthy dose of optimism – something we need more of in today’s world.
Alec Benjamin didn’t have an opening act, taking the stage at 8:30 for an eager audience that had been waiting since doors opened at 7:00. Concerts without opening acts are rare, but once he came on stage it was clear that it didn’t matter – the crowd was excited and ready to give him a warm welcome.
The stage was set up to look like a home, with backlit windows along with lamps, chairs, furniture with flowers and a picture of his dog, and a bed. These furnishings were set up around Benjamin’s guitar and piano, making it feel like you had just stepped into his bedroom. The intimate and personal vibe created by the staging permeated throughout his set.
Benjamin opened with his upbeat hit “I Sent My Therapist to Therapy.” Waving at the crowd as he sang, his energetic performance hyped everyone up even more. Several beats spent sitting on the edge of the bed, on the other hand, made the songs feel even more vulnerable. Eventually picking up his guitar, he flowed seamlessly through the next few songs, including hits like “If We Have Each Other,” “Devil Doesn’t Bargain,” and “The Arsonist.”
After everyone was sufficiently warmed up, he took some time to address the crowd, immediately charming us with stories of his adventures in Prague before the show. It’s clear that his storytelling skills aren’t just limited to music – I don’t remember the last time I genuinely laughed at a concert. He related a funny story about trying to control himself on tour because he goes “wild with the food,” and shared that he’d been tempted by a dessert he’d seen on the street (trdelnik, for all you Praguers reading this). The story ended with the audience laughing at the fact that he was asking people on the street if they were good and ultimately wanting to steal them.
His down-to-earth way of relating to the audience was well received, and Benjamin also didn’t shy away from poking a little fun at himself. According to his story, he’d met some other Americans earlier in the day and invited him to the show, and when they listened to his songs they asked, “who’s the girl singing?” He then announced that “this girl is ready to sing you some more songs” before heading into the next one.
Between his extraordinary performance, his goofy facial expressions, and his sincerity in connecting with the audience through self-deprecating humor and Prague-specific stories, it was clear he’d won over every single person in the venue that night.
After “The Arsonist,” he slowed things down and played some acoustic tracks, including the emotional “Older,” starting with his guitar and soon moving over to the piano. When he started playing “Water Fountain,” the crowd went wild. After a few bars of playing it acoustic, he picked up his guitar again to launch into the original version. He ran through a few more hits, including a snippet of “The Knife In My Back,” before introducing his touring band members and exiting the stage.
Benjamin quickly returned for a two-song encore, appropriately including “12 Notes.” He ended with his 2018 breakthrough single “Let Me Down Slowly,” much to the crowd’s excitement.
The evening spent with Alec Benjamin was wonderfully well spent. His flawless musical performance was genuine and heartfelt, and it was clear he was enjoying every second of it just as much as the crowd was. His authentic and quietly confident way of connecting with the audience was an unexpected bonus – his stories and mannerisms during the performance gave him an approachable boy-next-door vibe, even as he continues to sell out shows across Europe.
If you haven’t seen Alec Benjamin yet, it’s not too late – he’s touring Europe for the next week with dates in Berlin, Warsaw, Copenhagen, and more. He’ll end the 12 Notes Tour in Vilnius on Apr. 9. Tickets to all upcoming dates can be found here.
Follow Alec Benjamin: Website // YouTube // Spotify // Instagram // TikTok
