Concert Review: No Glitz, Just Music For Sam Smith At TD Garden

BOSTON, MA — Sam Smith does not have many frills when it comes to his live performance. Unlike other shows, there is no pyro, elaborate sets or lasers - just a man and his band singing the hits.

That’s what a near-capacity TD Garden was treated to Thursday night during the Boston leg of Smith’s Thrill of It All Tour. Rising from below the stage, Smith attempted to let the music speak for itself without the assistance of an elaborate production, but left himself expose moments that were not particularly interesting.

With a slim catwalk for a stage, a band at the back, and a large triangle and circle for a background, Smith's challenge is how do you make people happy when one’s music downs in misery? It’s something that the British start admitted was a challenge at the start of the show, with a promise that the evening would be about love. At times, it felt odd, especially during a song like "I'm Not the Only One" to see a smiling man belting out tunes of pure sadness,

From soulful pop to his collaboration with Disclosure, Smith spent the evening strolling up and down his own walkway confidently belting out tune after tune, doing not much else aside from some lounge-style chatter. His dark backdrop and ramp remained mostly unlit until the fifth song, “Omen” when Smith showed something that wasn’t slow and dreary.

Throughout the night, Smith attempted to find intimate moments between him and the 19,000 Smith loyalists. The Spectre theme, “Writing's on the Wall” was performed with only a cello and a piano, which worked for the Bond song, but when he slowed down Latch, Smith took out of the most popular dance songs from the past few years and sucked the life out of it.

Smith gave his band a chance to shine, and it feels like an important part of the show, rather than the bathroom break it could have been. On “Baby, You Make Me Crazy,” his four backing singers take the reins for the second verse, and he shares the stage for “Restart,” one of the songs where Smith brings his band up front and tries out his dancing shoes with some sidestepping.

Earlier in the show, Smith talked about trying to find a message of love amid all his depressing songs. That moment came with “HIM” the track of the night which served as a reminder that love is love and with rainbow lights and rainbow flags on the guitar and bass, all are welcomed.

The night ended with a three-song encore of “Palace,” “Stay With Me,” and “Pray” before taking the seat he used to rise to the top of the stage to return below.

Country singer Cam provided a 30-minute opening set.

Image Credit: Dan Libon