By: Ramon Sanchez

Benson Boone took over Albany’s MVP Arena and turned a 15,000 plus crowd into something that felt intimate. The Wanted Man Tour stop was not just a concert, it was a full emotional arc, balancing explosive energy with deeply personal storytelling.

From the start, Boone had the crowd locked in opening the show with some of his most popular hits “Wanted Man,” “Drunk in My Mind” and of course “Mystical Magical,” the arena was teeming with high energy moments including an aerial rigged stage. “Slow It Down” kept the arena buzzing, while his signature athletic stage presence, including a confetti filled backflip sequence towards the middle, which brought a level of excitement that felt larger than life.

The transition into “Pretty Slowly” and ‘In The Stars” is where the night became more intimate truly setting the night apart where every moment felt like time paused and everything slowed down and making the massively packed arena feel personal. Benson then went into monologue before “My Greatest Fear” reflecting on his life and how he found a new meaning for a song which he made for someone in his past but felt like rededicating the song for the crowd, and the people who lift him up every step of the way. That shift captured the overall theme of the night, turning personal experiences into something shared with everyone in the room.

The next few songs built upon the last leading up to a beautiful moment before he asked if there were any mothers in the crowd, entering into how special he feels his mother is to his life.

For “Momma Song,” Boone changed outfits and shifted into a more intimate part of the stage. He asked fans to turn on their flashlights, filling the arena with a soft glow while a family montage played behind him, showing old home videos of his childhood and the things that formed him adding a deeply emotional layer to the performance. The room fell almost completely silent, with every person locked into the moment.

Even an unexpected interruption became part of the experience. During a powerful vocal moment, a bug flew into his mouth. Boone laughed it off, joked with the crowd, and kept going without missing a beat. That moment of authenticity made the performance feel even more real.

He followed that stretch with “Before You”, a song he mentioned he had not performed much in the past and did not include on his last tour. He brought it back because fans asked for it, showing how much he values that connection. The crowd response made it clear it was worth it.

“The Time of My Life” stood out as one of the most meaningful performances of the night. Boone shared that it is one of his favorite songs to perform, talking about the feeling of thinking of someone and wishing they were there with you. That emotion carried through the entire arena. Songs like “What Do You Want” and “I Wanna Be the One You Call” added another layer of vulnerability, especially as he stepped out in a third outfit, a bedazzled jersey that matched the bold tone of the moment.

The show built back up to a powerful close with fan-favorites “What Was,” “Cry,” before joking with the crowd if they knew this next song. He closed off the show with one of his most popular songs “Beautiful Things,” and with over 15,000 voices singing along, the final song felt like a release of everything that came before it.

Benson Boone proved in Albany that this was truly a magical show filled with spectacle, and of course his signature backflips. Between the high energy performance, the emotional depth, and the genuine connection with his fans, this was a show that will stay with people long after the night ended.

The Wanted Man 2026 tour continues until September, buy tickets here.