FINNEAS - Live in Philadelphia
Photography by Muriel Margaret
There was an electric buzz in The Fillmore as the lights dimmed just before FINNEAS’s set. A round of cheers erupted as the lights came back up and FINNEAS took his place in front of a piano. The opening chords of “Starfucker” floated into the venue, immediately enveloping the audience in an intimate embrace. The entire room seemed to sway as FINNEAS delivered a smooth opening to the show.
The subdued nature of “Starfucker” didn’t last long, as FINNEAS quickly transitioned into the cathartic “Lotus Eater,” moving from the piano to the center of the stage and picking up his guitar. Whereas only a white spotlight covered him for first song, the entire stage was lit in a hazy purple and green during “Lotus Eater.” The crowd around me seemed to react better to the second song as well, with people starting to move around and sing along to the anthemic lyrics. The heightened energy continued into “Cleats,” with the bouncy song ensuring that everyone was nodding their heads and grooving along.
Photography by Muriel Margaret
“I love Philadelphia,” said FINNEAS in between songs, “but it’s freezing! I think we need to warm it up a bit–let’s dance,” he added before transitioning into “Sweet Cherries.” Another upbeat and flirty song, “Sweet Cherries” saw FINNEAS strutting around the stage and waving to the crowd on each side. Cool and confident, FINNEAS’s charismatic stage presence was on full display.
Well-known for his work with his sister, Billie Eilish, FINNEAS released his sophomore solo album last October. For Cryin’ Out Loud! marked a slight shift in his sound, with a lot of the songs leaning into jazzy melodies, compared to his previous pop ballads. Speaking of ballads, a highlight of the night was “Angles,” a song he dedicated to his girlfriend Claudia Sulewski (whose birthday happened to be that night). Starting with a few soft notes, the song gradually built into a burst of emotion, drawing tears from the crowd around me (and, admittedly, me too).
Photography by Muriel Margaret
The politically charged “The Kids Are All Dying,” was next, and FINNEAS was back to strutting around the stage. He also took the time to interact with fans between songs, laughing at “Elmo Gay for Finneas” shirts he spotted in the crowd and signing a snoopy hat. During one song, he even grabbed a lucky fan’s phone, spinning around and singing into the phone before throwing it back.
A solo performance of “Till Forever Fall Apart,” was another highlight. The track, a collaboration between Ashe and FINNEAS is a cinematic track about doomsday love and turned into a duet between FINNEAS and the crowd as many sang along during Ashe’s lyrics. Next was “Family Feud,” a heartwarming song about his sister and their love. Taking a seat at the piano once more, the energy of the night slowed down, as many in the audience turned to their friends and family to embrace and sway along with the melodic song.
“Let’s Fall in Love for the Night,” quickly brought the energy back up, and FINNEAS closed out his set with “For Cryin’ Out Loud!” the title track from his newest album. The catchy beat prompted everyone to clap along as FINNEAS and his band delivered an energetic flare to end the night.
There was no encore to end the night, but FINNEAS’s performance was a wonderful blend of heartfelt acoustic ballads and upbeat pop anthems, leaving the audience more than satisfied.