California alt rock band The Neighbourhood had fans swooning on their long awaited return to New England. Boston’s TD Garden was at full capacity, packed with passionate fans that let their excitement known. The evening got started with the help of electronic pop outfit Neggy Gemmy, offering a short and energetic set to warm up an already fiery crowd. With a simple setup and blasts of light, the band brought the dreamy and sleazy vibes together, very much in line with the Tumblr-esque aesthetic that dominated the evening’s fashion.
The Neighbourhood’s arrival was introduced by Iris, a robotic voice that served as the storyteller throughout the show. The band confidently kicked things off with “Hula Girl” and “OMG”, off their most recent album (((((Ultrasound)))))+. The first act of the show would blend in some of the band’s older hits with their newer sound, keeping fans on their toes and screaming at the top of their lungs. The stage setup incorporated lots of fog and laser piercing through the arena, as frontman Jesse Rutherford catered to fans by taking his shirt off early on.
The fangirl energy was intense, but there was also a deep connection to the lyrics, the crowd screaming and hanging onto every word. Rutherford’s poignant “did you miss us?” resonated deeply, knowing Boston fans had waited about 8 years for their return.
A flaming hot performance of “Devil’s Advocate” brought the first act to a close, with Iris introducing what she called “the ballad section of the show”, encouraging the crowd to yearn and feel their emotions. As comedic as the bit was, it would also give full permission for the fans to embrace their feelings, chanting through the tears. The second act centered on slowing the energy down, with deep cuts like “Baby Came home 2” and “Pretty Boy”. Fans did not hesitate to show their excitement to hear some of the band’s more emotionally charged tracks, which blended in well with newer tracks like “Good Grief” and “Private”. The latter was introduced fondly by Rutherford, asking the crowd to sing along and candidly sharing how he envisioned this exact moment as he was writing the song: “Make my dreams come true now, won’t you?”.
The second act gave way to the end of the show, promptly closing out in a high with mega hit “Sweater Weather” and “Softcore”. The Neighbourhood’s reunion with their loving fans was as exhilarating as many expected, as if time had not passed by.
Photos and words by Maria Alejandra Mata.
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