Show Review: Bluphoria and Noah Vonne with Cordelia Fox
By Kayli Harley
Bluphoria performing at The Middle East, photographed by Kayli Harley
Noah Vonne performing at The Middle East, photographed by Kayli Harley
In the intimate, dimly lit space of The Middle East Upstairs, a small group of no more than twelve people stood facing a cramped stage littered with instruments waiting for their musicians. Sitting on the steps on the right side of the stage, the members of the opening band sat chatting, the drummer using imaginary sticks to play along to the rock song playing through the venue’s speakers.
When the opening group — going by the name of their lead singer Cordelia Fox — took the stage, they warmed up the small audience with a mixture of original songs and covers. Their short set held a good groove, blending the signature sounds of R&B and alternative pop. Although they came off as a bit unseasoned due to their age, they still gave a strong performance.
Fifteen minutes after Cordelia Fox left the stage, Bluphoria took it. The lead guitarist and vocalist, Reign LaFreniere, adorned his baby blue Fender with what appeared to be tree rings drawn on the pickguard and welcomed the crowd to the band’s first show in Boston. That night’s show was the 23rd performance of their co-headline U.S. tour with Noah Vonne.
Bluphoria began their set with “Set Me Up,” one of the band’s most listened-to songs according to their Spotify. Off the bat, the band’s confident and distinctive personality shone through. Their smooth, cohesive sound is reminiscent of blues and rock with an alternative twist. LaFreniere brings a unique vocal perspective, adding several musical screams throughout the show to pair with the slight rasp in his tone.
They seamlessly transitioned between songs for most of their set, slowing down at one point to pick up the pace in the next. It was clear they were having fun as they moved and danced around each other. During their performance of “Ain’t Got Me,” LaFreniere even played the guitar behind his head before plucking the strings with his teeth. At another point during the show, they gave a beer review of Guinness and talked about Boston food with the audience. Their playful and upbeat attitude brought a positive energy to the tight space.
Bluphoria managed to play the majority of their well-known songs, such as “Walk Through the Fire,” “Pretty People,” and “Kaleidoscope.” They also mixed in two covers, ending their set with “Sex on Fire” by Kings of Leon before handing the reins to Noah Vonne to close the night out.
Compared to Bluphoria’s energetic performance, Vonne toned things down. Her powerful, steady vocals commanded the space as she followed a similar pattern to the previous bands, performing a mixture of originals and covers. The original tracks gave the audience a taste of Vonne’s acute songwriting ability, with tracks like “To-Dos” and “What If We Had Austin” being notable favorites. As the set continued, the lights grew dimmer, turning to a rich red and deep green that added to the moody atmosphere of the band’s music.
When the show ended, Vonne thanked the remaining crowd members for sticking around and rejoined Bluphoria on the other side of the room where they were sitting. The casual setting of the venue allowed audience members to chat with the musicians, giving them space to offer praise and ask questions about the tour’s next destination. Despite the small turn-out, the artists managed to give life to the space and prove that music is transformative and connective no matter who is listening.
EDITED BY STEPH WARE