On an unusually warm fall Sunday, a crowd settled in for a Matt Maltese show at Boston’s House of Blues. Just across the street at Fenway Park, a rambunctious celebration of the Red Sox’s win roared on, a sharp contrast to the night ahead, one defined more by intimacy than intensity.
Cornelia Murr sets the tone
Opener Cornelia Murr arrived with an understated presence, taking her stand at her piano as her small band set a hushed backdrop. Her set leaned into that understatement. It had sparse arrangements, deliberate pacing, and vocals that cut through with clarity. The minimalism worked in her favor, allowing the strength of her voice and lyricism to shine. She’s starting to carve her place in the indie landscape, her February release “Run to the Center” has been universally praised, and Sunday’s performance showed why. For an audience preparing for Maltese’s own brand of restraint, Murr was an ideal pairing.
A soft jazz club vibe
By the time Matt Maltese took the stage, the crowd had settled in further. After a few songs standing at the mic, he moved behind the piano and anchored himself there for the evening. Backed by a full band, he still managed to make the 2,500-cap venue feel like a small listening room. He transformed the House of Blues into something closer to a smoky jazz club than a rock venue, with the audience captivated and leaning in rather than bouncing along.
The setlist drew from across Maltese’s extensive catalog, including his breakout ballad “As the World Caves In,” delivered in a delicate medley with “Intolewd.” Fan favorites like “Curl Up and Die” and “Krystal” showed up, but most of his set list leaned on material from his sixth studio album “Hers,” released earlier this year.
Songs over spectacle
What stood out most was Maltese’s ability to hold attention without theatrics. He doesn’t rely on stage banter, elaborate set designs, or tricks. Instead, he trusts the songs to do the heavy lifting. And they do. “Arthouse Cinema” unfolded with a cinematic patience, while “Happy Birthday” turned a simple conceit into something strangely moving. Closing with “Everyone Adores You (At Least I Do)” left the night on an affectionate, unguarded note.
In a space that usually hosts sweaty, shout-along rock shows, Maltese delivered the opposite: an evening of patience and poise. It may not have been raucous, but it fit him. And the audience leaned in accordingly.
