On September 30, I had the privilege of seeing Conan Gray perform Found Heaven on tour at Madison Square Garden, and it was a phenomenal experience. This being my first ever concert, everything about it was absolutely amazing.
English singer Maisie Peters was the opener for Conan Gray, performing 10 of her most heartfelt and meaningful songs:
- “You’re Just a Boy”
- “Body Better”
- “Love Him I Don’t”
- “John Hughes Movie”
- “Not Another Rockstar”
- “The Band and I”
- “Yoko”
- “There it Goes”
- “History of Man”
- “Lost the Breakup”
Although I wasn’t quite familiar with Maisie Peters’ music, I found her performance incredibly easy to vibe with, which truly added to the experience. Her soft yet ethereal voice paired her bold instrumentals perfectly, and subtle touches, such as her seamless blend of the electric and acoustic guitar, enchanted the entire audience. It was, in my opinion, the perfect opener for an artist with such a powerful repertoire like Conan Gray, particularly due to the transition from an acoustic, British pop to a more indie pop soundtrack.
Shortly after, the lights above dimmed, signifying the start of the concert. It was one of the most memorable moments of my life; the crowd screamed with excitement as Conan Gray emerged onto stage, his voice booming through the microphone. The concert lasted about two and a half hours, and the setlist went as follows:
- “Fainted Love”
- “Never Ending Song”
- “Wish You Were Sober”
- “Eye of the Night”
- “Killing Me”
- “The Exit”
- “People Watching”
- “The Cut that Always Bleeds”
- “Jigsaw”
- “Family Line”
- “The Story”
- “Holidays” (unreleased at the time)
- “Astronomy”
- “Found Heaven”
- “Boys and Girls”
- “Lonely dancers”
- “Winner”
- “Heather” (plus an original verse at the end)
- “Memories”
- “Bourgeoisieses”
- “Maniac”
- “Alley Rose”
This unique blend of his three albums Kid Krow, Superache, and his newest release Found Heaven is truly representative of his profound progression as an artist, as the concert took us on a tear-inducing emotional rollercoaster. The contrast between Conan Gray’s most introspective, deep songs like “The Story” and his more energetic, rhythmic tracks like “Bourgeoisieses” certainly made for a diverse yet captivating setlist. The variation of his dynamics, along with his melodic touch, is what particularly makes his music so astounding, and it sounded even more sincere hearing it live.
One of my favorite performances from the concert was for the song “Jigsaw,” the seventh track on his album Superache. This song is so incredibly meaningful and heart-wrenching, and his rich vocals matched it perfectly. It was beautiful to sing along to, despite the tears streaming down my face.
Another memorable performance was the song “Bourgeoisieses,” from Found Heaven. The upbeat, captivating swing made it incredibly catchy to sing and dance along to, making it a standout moment for the concert.
“Heather” also deserves a notable mention for being one of his most admired tracks. His performance of this song also came with an exclusive original verse at the end; a slight touch that made the song all the more meaningful and unforgettable. This extra verse almost acts as one last tribute to Heather before the song closes, describing her features as perfect, and romanticizing her “kissable lips.” This extra closing truly ties in the idea of unrequited love and the pain in letting go.
As a surprise track, Conan Gray performed for us “Holidays,” a track that came out a few weeks subsequent to the concert. This unexpected performance shocked everyone, and was an amazing addition to the concert. It provided the crowd with a small break of simply listening to the music, allowing us to truly absorb the melody of the new and unknown piece.
The Found Heaven concert fostered such an unforgettable sense of community and belonging. It was incredible being in an atmosphere where so many Conan Gray fans could sing their hearts out and share their love for his music, and I would definitely go again if I had the chance to.
