In May 2025, Audrey Hobert made her debut with her single “Sue Me.” Just a year later, it already feels like she’s been part of the conversation for much longer. Much of that can be attributed to her unapologetic honesty; lyrics that often sound like an inner monologue. So it was no surprise that when Hobert took the stage at Boston’s Roadrunner on Saturday night, the evening felt less like a concert and more like the ultimate sleepover.
Following an “opening set” from a mannequin wearing an Elsa wig, Hobert emerged in Groucho glasses and an absurdly oversized trench coat. Strumming a banjo, she kicked things off with “i like to touch people” before moving through her debut album Who’s The Clown?. From the outset, the absurdity and humor felt deliberate and fully on brand.
The stage setup was minimal. There were no elaborate set pieces or costume changes, just a single disco ball hanging downstage. And when the light caught it just right during “Shooting Star,” beams scattered across the room, reaching all the way into the rafters. Hobert didn’t need spectacle, she filled the space on her own. She leaned instead on authenticity and the occasional prop supplied by her “propmaster,” who even donned a purple wig and animatedly played a fake saxophone during “Thirst Trap.”
Audrey balanced humor with vulnerability. Before performing “Phoebe,” she admitted, “It’s like the only part of the night where I get choked up sometimes ‘cause it’s really amazing to look out and see as many people as I possibly can sing this back to me.” But it wasn’t just that song that had the crowd singing. The crowd made it known that they knew every single song on her album.
During “Silver Jubilee,” the performance turned into a surprise family affair, with her sister Ella joining her onstage, while her aunt and grandmother cheered from the audience, making the moment feel even more personal and unguarded.
Despite the physical distance between stage and crowd, Hobert repeatedly made it disappear. Her conversational, relatable monologues made fans feel seen, but it was her final gesture that made them feel understood. To close out the night, she performed a phone-free encore of “Sue Me.” Acknowledging that fans would want to capture the moment, she first gave them time to record, then asked them to put their phones away and experience it together once more.
As the room sang, “Sue me, I wanna be wanted” in unison, it felt like everyone had arrived at the same feeling at the same time, even if only for a few moments.
Grab your ticket to see Audrey Hobert on the “Staircase to Stardom” Tour here.
Amelia Cordischi, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Juice Box Press, is an accomplished digital marketing professional with over a decade of experience in media and communications. Her work has been featured in notable publications, including The Boston Globe. A communications graduate of Simmons University in Boston, Amelia served as manager of Simmons College Radio (“The Shark”), where she also launched and co-hosted her radio show, The Find.
In addition to her editorial work, Amelia is an established freelance photographer, with bylines in Blended Magazine and CelebMix, capturing artists and cultural moments across the music and media landscape. Her career began at WCVB-TV’s Chronicle, the ABC affiliate in Boston, where she gained firsthand experience in broadcast journalism and storytelling.
When she’s not taking photos from the photo pit, interviewing emerging artists, or crafting the next Juice Box Press feature, Amelia can be found thrifting and exploring the world of sustainable fashion.