Macklemore And Ryan Lewis Bring The Biggest Dance Party To Boston

Hunter Reis ’17 / Emertainment Monthly Writer

This past weekend, dream team Macklemore and Ryan Lewis stopped by Boston on the tail end of their Fall World Tour. They played at the sold out TD Garden in front of an audience of over 12,000 people, all of who participated in “the biggest dance party Boston has ever seen,” according to Macklemore himself.

The forest-themed set, complete with a stuffed bear, was revealed as the curtain dropped and Macklemore ascended from beneath the stage on a rising platform. He began his 15-song set with “Ten Thousand Hours,” driving fans wild with stage fireworks and confetti that I am still pulling out of my hair.

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Macklemore’s stage presence was amazing, continuously engaging with the crowd and introducing “Thrift Shop” with an anecdote about him finding himself naked on the Charles River in need of some clothing. He had the audience switch between laughter and tears almost instantly as he discussed how he overcame his addiction to alcohol and drugs and sang “Otherside” a cappella.

To introduce “Same Love,” Macklemore spoke proudly about the progress America is making in its fight to legalize gay marriage. He told the audience members no government or institution should stop them from being who they truly are. “Finally we are starting to see that our words have value,” he told the screaming audience. “You can either use your words to uplift the people or you can use your words to crush others’ dreams and who they are.” Mary Lambert also came on stage to sing her heart-wrenching chorus during “Same Love.”

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Macklemore then told the audience of how many rappers refuse to freestyle at concerts, in fear of being recorded during a mistake. He joked about how everybody should take out their phones as he started a spectacular freestyle rap to the tune of “Float On” by Modest Mouse.

The audience continued to go wild during “Can’t Hold Us” with Ray Dalton, “White Walls,” and “Wing$,” before the encore and Mackelmore’s most impressive costume change of the night. He returned for his encore dressed to the nines as what he calls “the British God of Dance” and played his hit song “And We Danced.” The show continued after another quick costume change back into a Larry Bird Celtics jersey and an Irish Flag with “Irish Celebration” and finally concluded with a reprise of  “Can’t Hold Us.”

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Macklemore and Ryan Lewis will continue on their world tour until mid-March, where they will end in New Zealand. If the duo are feeling even the slightest bit tired from their busy tour schedule, they definitely aren’t showing it. Their show at the TD Garden was certainly the most energetic concert I’ve ever attended.