How did we get here?
This question isn’t just the title of Louis Tomlinson’s current tour; it’s one The Beaches are probably asking themselves, too.
Following their feature on the soundtrack of Amazon’s Off Campus, which debuted this past May, the Toronto quartet has been on a meteoric rise, earning a coveted opening slot on Tomlinson’s arena tour.
On Tuesday night, fresh off a milestone performance at New York’s Madison Square Garden, the band took the stage at Boston’s TD Garden, the home of the Bruins and, fittingly, the team trying to recruit Off Campus heartthrob, Garrett Graham.
As the band entered the stage, the crowd roared at a volume that is rare for an opener, but The Beaches quickly proved they deserved every decibel.
Kicking off their set with “Takes One to Know One” from their latest album, No Hard Feelings, The Beaches commanded the arena with the confidence and energy of a headliner. But when the lights briefly came up after their third song, the band paused to take in the moment, visibly stunned by the sight of thousands of fans waving their arms in unison throughout the arena.
With “THE BEACHES” displayed in bold white letters on a black upstage screen, the quartet powered through a 10-song set that featured mostly songs from No Hard Feelings, along with two selections from their debut album Blame My Ex.
Among them was “Edge of the Earth,” which was featured in episode two of Off Campus and earned an enthusiastic endorsement from the series’ lead, Hannah Wells: “Wait, have you heard of The Beaches? Their Coachella set will change your life.”
While TD Garden may have been a long way from the California desert, The Beaches delivered a performance that lived up to the show’s lofty praise.
Before playing the song, guitarist Leandra Earl, sporting a David Pastrňák Bruins jersey, leaned into the Off Campus connection.
“Guys, it’s so amazing to be in the home of Ilya Rozanov,” she said, referencing another hockey romance, Heated Rivalry. After a beat, she added, “And soon-to-be Garrett Graham,” before dedicating the song to Hannah and Garrett.
The Beaches wrapped up their set with another favorite from the debut album, “Blame Brett.” As the crowd chanted back “Blame my ex, blame my ex, blame my ex,” there was no longer any question of how The Beaches got here. Their performance, and the crowd’s overwhelming response, were proof enough.
For tickets to see The Beaches live, visit thebeachesband.com
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.