by Rebecca Clark

Benson Boone Brings Raw Emotion, High Energy, and Olympic-Level Stamina to Sold-Out CMAC Show

With a soulful opening set from Isabel Dumaa, the night was filled with vulnerability, connection, and moments that make life beautiful.

Benson Boone took the stage at CMAC last night to a sold-out crowd and delivered a performance that blurred the line between a polished pop/indie rock concert and raw, emotional storytelling. Before Boone’s high-energy set began, opener Isabel Dumaa set a beautiful tone for the evening. Huge shoutout to CMAC for bringing such an incredible talent to the stage. The venue was the perfect setting for Benson Boone’s only show in the area!

Backed only by a guitarist and keyboardist, Isabel Dumaa captivated the crowd with a presence rooted in simplicity. Her warm, soulful vocals and stripped-down setup allowed her music to take center stage, drawing listeners in with every note. Her sound blends the tender storytelling of early Taylor Swift with the earthy, poetic soulfulness of Natalie Merchant, striking a balance that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly current.

Midway through her set, she picked up a guitar and leaned further into that emotional depth, strumming and singing lyrics like, “Nothing I could have done would have been enough for you.” There’s a maturity in her phrasing and tone that recalls Merchant’s solo work and her time with 10,000 Maniacs, while her lyrical honesty channels the sharp introspection found in Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department.

Isabel shared that her debut EP dropped in October 2024, and she’s been writing nonstop since. Among the new songs she previewed, “Narcissist” inspired by a past situationship stood out with its raw honesty and confident delivery, echoing that moody, diaristic edge Swift fans will recognize.

She also brought lightness to the set with a cover of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.” When she stumbled over a lyric, she laughed it off with effortless charm, endearing herself to the crowd even more. Dressed in a chic white corset and flowing skirt, she looked as polished as she sounded, an emerging artist already owning her space.

Then came Benson Boone, who quite literally exploded onto the stage, launching straight into “Sorry I’m Here for Someone Else,” flipping off a piano that was center stage. From the very first note, he had the crowd in awe. His ability to connect with fans was nothing short of remarkable. He frequently paused to interact directly with the audience asking names, complimenting shirts, and checking in with fans all the way out on the lawn. At one point, a fan tossed her phone onstage, and after unlocking it with the code she provided, Benson Snapchatted a random friend, a hilarious, spontaneous moment that had the crowd roaring.

But beyond the humor and high energy, what stood out most was Boone’s genuine emotional openness. Before performing “In the Stars,” he asked the audience to put their phones away so the moment could be just between them. He shared that he wrote the song while grieving someone he lost and he spoke from the heart about the fleeting nature of life. Despite the massive amphitheater setting, the moment felt deeply personal and was a testament to his rare ability to create true connection. Looking around the crowd and seeing no sea of phones, just people fully present, made it all the more powerful.

Boone’s set included fan favorites like “Coffee Cake,” “Mystical Magical,” and “Momma Song,” during which he got emotional talking about his parents, who were in attendance. His ability to shift from heartfelt vulnerability to explosive acrobatics including frequent backflips is nothing short of astonishing. His stamina is next-level, and the balance between his vocal talent and physical showmanship was genuinely impressive. 

He holds the stage with quiet confidence, but it’s his sincerity and emotional vulnerability that linger long after the lights fade.

He also gave fans a sneak peek at his upcoming album American Heart, performing a new track as the American flag illuminated the screen behind him.

He closed the night just as he began hopping onto the piano, this time for his career-defining hit “Beautiful Things.” With renewed passion, he launched into the soaring chorus and punctuated the moment with one final, dramatic backflip, giving the crowd every last ounce of his energy.

As he finished singing Boone jumped into the pit, high-fiving fans along the entire barricade before hopping back onstage for one final round of backflips that felt straight out of an Olympic floor routine. As he exited, he shouted “I love you!” to the crowd again and again, and it was clear he meant it.

In a world full of overproduced, emotionally distant performances, Benson Boone is the real deal: vulnerable, intentional, wildly talented, and deeply connected to his fans.

His future is undeniably bright, but what he’s already built is nothing short of remarkable.