Last Monday’s The Midnight concert at Boston’s Royale was the definition of sold out. Not like when an arena will tweet “Tonight’s show is SOLD OUT” while a few hundred to a thousand tickets still linger on Ticketmaster, but like… for real. And though only a handful more patrons could have fit in the room, it didn’t feel too packed or uncomfortable- as the crowd remained level-headed and chill.

Opening for The Midnight was Nightly, an up-and-coming alternative pop group from Nashville.

No strangers to the openers circuit, having previously opened for established acts like Kesha, NF, and K. Flay, Nightly opened the night playing to roughly 75-80% of the full Midnight crowd. All of whom were enthusiastic and attentive, but only a handful of people seemed to be familiar with the group at all.

Kicking off their set with the high energy “This Time Last Year,” which is, at this point, a staple in their live show. That hook is so singable and catchy, and works as both an opener or a closer; “Is it too late just to talk it out? Used to call me every day but now it’s nothing.”

Next, they dug up “S.T.A.Y,” short for “still think about you,” from the setlist grave (to my delight), having not played it much if at all on their last tour, then moved into “the movies,” which is easily one of their most accessible and well-known songs. They seamlessly transitioned out of “the movies” and into “Sleepless Nights,” their collaboration with electronic artist Ayokay. The transitions on their debut record, night, love you, were smart, swift, and well-executed, and the same could be said in a live setting. 

This was the first show I’ve seen them play without performing a single track from their debut EP, Honest. Even with the shortened nature of the opening act slot, I missed the brooding title track “Honest” and the exuberant kiss-off “XO.” However, new songs like “about you,” (their fresh new collaboration with Swedish electronic duo NOTD) and “lover/loner,” one of the best of their discography, were welcome additions to the set. The latter was, without a doubt, the highlight of the set, especially with its extended instrumental outro, and garnered the most audience participation. The track features a handclap-breakdown section of the chorus, one of the most memorable hooks of their career, and relatable lyrics; “Part of me is depressed while the other sides happy. Fear of missing out, but I hate goin to parties. The angel’s always tryna fight the devil on my shoulder. One day I’m in love and the other I’m a loner.” 

The boys sounded focused and tight and looked like they were having so much fun up there on a big stage and in a big room. Drummer Nicholas Sainato’s performance really stuck out, as everything he did felt so grandiose and gave the set the bombast it needed. Guitarist Joey Beretta is always full of palpable energy, and he and Jon, who are cousins, always connect in such a magnetic way. 

Jon doesn’t talk much during their sets, but he said they were happy to be on the road again and especially happy to be “this far up north”. He encouraged us to buy some merch so that they can go have some Taco Bell after the show, then proceeded to have a little banter with someone who yelled that they should get clam chowder instead. It is Boston, after all. 

They closed their set with “Twenty Something”, which, with over 16 million streams, has, truly, taken on a life of its own. It is most definitely the crowd favorite and one everyone instantly relates to; “Don’t freak out, we’re only twenty something. All I know is that with you there’s something.”

Jon, who shot himself in the foot on the recording singing in falsetto for the last 30 or so seconds, sounded so clear and healthy up top, as consistent a vocalist as always.

With just eight songs, Nightly showcased themselves very well to a room in which most people were seeing and hearing them for the first time. They won the crowd over completely and received a lot of love from the Boston faithful. They’re touring with The Midnight through the beginning of April, finishing their run in Miami, FL. 

You can listen to “about you” with NOTD here: 

You can follow Nightly on social media here: 

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