On Sunday, while most of the country was tuned into the Academy Awards, Boston was witnessing a rising star of its own. Eli, a Norfolk, Massachusetts native and internet sensation, brought her “Stage Girl” tour to The Sinclair in Cambridge for a night that indulged all our pop fantasies.
Following a high-energy dance performance by Boston-based doll, Candace Persuasian, the room buzzed with anticipation for Eli. Beneath the glow of a “Stage Girl” sign, an unmistakable nod to a certain iconic talent competition, Eli took the stage to room-shaking cheers. “Hey Boston, I’m home!,” Eli called out to the crowd before kicking off her shimmering, theatrical set.
Draped in a flowing pastel pink gown, her hair billowing in the breeze of a Beyoncé-level wind machine, Eli performed her debut album “Stage Girl” in its entirety, save for “Sunny.” The 16-song set unfolded like a talent show, moving from audition to backstory, her “Journey of a Doll,” to the ultimate crowning of a star.
From the yearning vulnerability of “Girl of Your Dreams” to the sparkle of “Glitter,” the performance showcased both her effortless vocals and her command of the room. Between moments like performing “The Cup Song” and trying on fedoras from an onstage costume rack, Eli spent much of the night at the edge of the stage, holding hands, chatting with fans, and playing directly to every camera lens in sight.
A standout moment came when Eli paused to reflect on her journey. “ I’m from Massachusetts, and I’m the next stage girl because I love to sing. And when I stand on the stage and when I sing my song, I sing to the people who didn’t believe in me. Here I sing to the people who thought a doll would never be on stage. When I look at you guys, I know that we’re gonna be alright,” she told a crowd filled with family, high school friends, and her devoted “Elliance” fanbase.
She went on to promise those fans, “And when I get ot MSG, baby, TD Garden, baby, that money is going back to all you guys because were in this together, because none of us want to ‘die in the body of somebody we’re not,’” she added with a giggle, seamlessly weaving in lyrics from her next song, “Somebody “You’re I’m Not.”
The night closed with a deafening encore chant of “Eli! Eli! Eli!” until Boston’s stage girl returned for one final bow. If Sunday proved anything, it’s that whether she’s on a local stage or a global one, Eli will always have Boston’s vote.
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.