sombr Concert Review: A Cheeky Yet Passionate Welcome to the Stage

Three, two, one, action!

With the clack of a director’s clapboard, sombr leapt onto the set of “The Late Nights & Young Romance Tour,” complete with a New York skyline backdrop, warm bulb lights, a desk, plush chairs, and big band set-up reminiscent of Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show. The crowd roared as a recording of sombr’s voice announced the start of the show: “Live from New York City, it’s the Late Nights Show!” Jazz music played in the background as sombr introduced his band members one by one.

At just 20 years old, sombr has amassed a dedicated following that grows larger by the minute. Due to overwhelming ticket sales, his team changed venues not once but twice — first from Brighton Music Hall to Big Night Live, finally settling on Leader Bank Pavilion in Seaport to accommodate the 5,000 fans in attendance.

Despite this being his first tour, he showed no signs of intimidation. Instead, he basked in the attention. From the moment the show “went live,” a continuous flow of energy, guitar runs, and passionate scream-singing made the crowd — mostly young girls and their parents — go wild. His spirit was infectious as he riled up the audience during his opening song, “i wish i knew how to quit you,” shouting that he didn’t “want to see anyone in a chair, unless you’re in a wheelchair!”

Between “we never dated”and “perfume,” he took a break by the talk show desk. A recording of his voice, pretending to be host Michael Boose — a nod to sombr’s real name, Shane Michael Boose — jokingly asked what the life of a rockstar is like. He referenced a viral interview in which he claimed to wake up at “six or seven in the morning” — poking fun at the six-seven trend on TikTok – before taking off his shirt to make sure his “abs are chiseled.”

This cheeky persona persisted throughout. sombr solicited girlfriend applications, pretended to strip while teasing the crowd with “take me out to dinner first,” and at one point ate a banana onstage for several minutes while elevator music played. The crowd fought over the peel.

His crowd interaction was remarkably extensive. In one segment, he invited fans onstage to call their exes so he could determine who was the problem. After one caller confessed he wanted to win back Liz — whom he planned to drive two hours to visit — sombr offered sincere advice: “Get her flowers, take her to the beach, prove you’re mature,” all while warning that “male manipulators are good at hiding themselves.” His honesty bridged the gap between performer and audience.

At times, sombr discarded his brazen personality for more intimate moments. During “caroline” — performed with an acoustic guitar beneath red lighting as the crowd waved flashlights — he explained how he’d posted the song at 16, terrified he’d be bullied at school. Instead, he went semi-viral overnight, with record labels reaching out and flying him to LA for his first record deal. Now, performing nearly his entire debut album “I Barely Know Her,” he reflected on his rise with genuine awe.

The theatrical staging elevated the performance beyond a typical pop concert. During “canal street,” he reclined on a therapy couch, reading a magazine as green and red lights shifted to blue and yellow. A Bob Dylan vinyl sat nearby. The lighting shifted with each mood — cold tones for “savior,” warm for “we never dated,” eerie darkness for “in your arms.”

By the finale, as the disco ball spun and orange lights flooded the stage during “12 to 12,” sombr’s gratitude was palpable. He thanked Boston, emphasized he was “just a kid” writing all his own songs, and insisted anyone could do it. He’s clearly not taking his position or fans for granted — and he’s genuinely amazed at his luck.

Overall, sombr perfectly balanced entertaining arrogance and silly antics with heartfelt sincerity, creating an endearing and charismatic persona. Modeling a concert after late night talk shows was a novel concept that offered new fans a genuine glimpse of his personality. His energy was contagious — it was genuinely impressive that he never tripped on the mic cord while running and jumping around the stage for the entire 90 minutes.

The show was short, sweet, and powerful: a perfect entrance into the tour scene. It will certainly be exciting to see how his discography and stage presence evolve as his musical journey progresses.

—Staff writer Julia J. Downey can be reached at julia.downey@thecrimson.com.