Gryffin Concert Review: A Night of Infectious Energy

American musician and DJ Daniel Griffith, known by his stage name Gryffin, brought his signature sound to Boston at Roadrunner on April 25. As part of his “Pulse Live” tour, which also includes shows in Austin, Atlanta, Nashville, and New York City, Gryffin performed music from his “PULSE” album as well as other top tracks.

Gryffin took the stage shortly after 11 p.m., beginning his performance with a fan favorite from 2019 with over 211 million streams on Spotify, “All You Need To Know ft. Calle Lehmann.” His set started off with the music expectantly playing in the background, teasing audiences of the electrifying night to come. At the climax of the song, when the lyrics “I’ll lift you when you’re feeling low” played, Gryffin walked on stage with a commanding presence.

Behind Gryffin, the stage lights finally flashed on, casting all the attention on him. Wasting no time in setting the tone, Gryffin immediately went up to his gear and emphatically raised his right hand in the air, igniting cheers from the audience.

His stage setup was typical of most DJs — it consisted of a single table for his professional gear, backed by towering projections behind him and synchronized lighting.

Gryffin’s energy throughout his set was infectious. On stage, he sang all the lyrics and danced passionately, jumping up and down in sync with the crowd. In his nearly hour and a half long performance, his dynamism never faltered, even for a split second.

The lights changed to soft blues for the first time when he performed “Just For A Moment ft. Iselin.” Behind Gryffin, a mesmerizing animation of what looked like floating rocks drifted downward, adding a dreamlike visual to the moment. This song was especially memorable as Gryffin abandoned his DJ set in the middle of the song to stand on top of his table and play his guitar live, showcasing his multi-talented nature.

This moment, however, would not be the last time Gryffin picked up his guitar — in fact, he returned back to it an additional three times throughout the night.

Boston fans were also treated to something special. The same day, Gryffin had just released “Air ft. Julia Michaels,” so he used the concert as an opportunity to perform it live for the first time.

The lighting and visual choices throughout Gryffin’s entire performance were especially mesmerizing. From flashing lasers, to unique color lighting changes, to stunning images of natural elements like the moon or waterfalls, every moment felt thoughtfully curated.

For instance, when Gryffin performed “All You Need To Know ft. Calle Lehmann” for the second time, a visual of a hand reaching down appeared on the projection likely in reference to the lyrics “I got your hands in mine.” In this rendition, Gryffin also brought out Calle Lehmann to sing the song live for the audience.

The show ended with Gryffin’s performance of “Feel Good ft. Daya,” a throwback from 2017 with over 284 million streams on Spotify. Blue lasers, smoke, and confetti took over the entire Roadrunner space, making it an electrifying conclusion to the night.

As the lights turned back on and the confetti settled, it was clear that Gryffin had delivered a high-energy set that certainly lived up to the hype.

—Staff writer Allison S. Park can be reached at allison.park@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @allisonskypark.