From Boston Calling 2024: Ed Sheeran’s Looper Pedal is “Perfect”
As a one-man-act, Sheeran flawlessly performed his songs and covers in a feat that required multitasking and a breadth of experience.Just days after his 10-year anniversary show in New York City for his album, “X,” Ed Sheeran brought his talent to Boston Calling in a performance that was nothing short of spectacular. If the New York concert was an homáge to his sophomore album, the headliner’s Boston set was a two-hour-long victory lap that spanned his entire career.
On the first night of Boston Calling, the audience buzzed with anticipation for the three-day music festival’s first headliner. Friday saw elaborate performances and stage designs across the four stages at the Harvard Athletic Complex, so when Sheeran walked onto the Green Stage — joined only by mic stands, a looper pedal, and his acoustic guitar — few were sure what to expect. Despite an underwhelming stage setup, Sheeran’s impressive looper pedal skills cemented his ability to create a stunning performance all on his own.
A looper pedal is a device which allows musicians to record and playback short musical clips that can be performed simultaneously to stack melodies. As a one-man-act, Sheeran flawlessly performed his songs and covers in a feat that required a considerable amount of multitasking and breadth of experience. If not for his brief explanation of the looper, fans would have been none the wiser: The English musician’s performance appeared effortless as he moved across the stage with an easy smile.
Aside from the technical skills required to mix both vocal and guitar inputs, Sheeran’s choice to rely solely on his guitar posed an interesting challenge. Sheeran’s distinctive songwriting has borrowed from many genres — including hip-hop, folk, rock, and soul — combined in a sound that is all his own. Despite the limited instrumentation, Sheeran’s set captured the stylistic diversity within his discography in small, strategic ways.
The performance demonstrated Sheeran’s creativity — from the ballad “Tenerife Sea” which featured airy vocals that mimicked a small string orchestra, to the anthemic “Don’t” which looped small, quick taps on Sheeran’s pickguard that served as the main percussive voice. Sheeran paused the background audio to focus the attention on his voice in “Thinking Out Loud,” a choice that embellished his vocal range and delicate lyrics. This extended beyond his own tracks during a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” a funky moment that showcased Sheeran’s altogether dynamic style.
Perhaps the most remarkable part about the set was in Sheeran’s ability to create a wholly engaging show without the help of a band. Sheeran strolled between a kaleidoscope of colors, butterflies, and math symbols displayed on large LED blocks at both sides of the stage. Throughout the night, he held the full attention of his audience with clever remarks:
“By tomorrow you need to have lost your voice because you lost it tonight,” said Sheeran.
Following a sing-a-long during “Give Me Love,” and a swath of chart-topping hits including Sheeran’s breakthrough single, “The A Team,” the audience had surely sang their hearts out.
—Staff writer Gwendolyn M. Ibarra can be reached at gwendolyn.ibarra@thecrimson.com.