_{Review by Rebecca Clark and Photos by Renee Clark Quade}

April 11th was one of those nights where everything just clicked, the kind of show that leaves you feeling a little lighter, a little more emotional, and completely in awe of the connection between artist and audience. The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, was sold out and buzzing from the start, thanks in part to an impressive opening set from rising singer-songwriter Henry Moodie.

At just 21 years old, Henry has an old soul and a knack for making a room full of strangers feel like old friends. He opened up about the stories behind his songs, like “Closure,” written about an ex he grew apart from, and got the crowd involved in a fun game to choose which Coldplay song to cover—landing on “Viva La Vida,” which he filmed as the audience sang along at full volume. Even without a full band, his stage presence was undeniable. He taught the chorus to “Right Person, Wrong Time” so fans could sing along and got hands waving during “Pick Up the Phone.” Charismatic, humble, and completely authentic, it’s easy to picture how powerful his shows will be when he eventually tours with a full band.

As the lights dimmed for Dean Lewis, the room shifted into something more electric but also more emotional. A recording of Dean’s voice played through the speakers—a heartfelt message about how “a new story begins when there’s a fall of an empire,” setting the tone for what would be an unforgettable night. He stepped onstage and launched straight into “Empire” as moody lighting wrapped the venue, and within seconds, the crowd was singing so loud it felt like the whole place might lift off.

That energy never let up. From the first track to the last encore, fans were fully in it, singing every word, especially during the quieter songs where their voices nearly drowned him out. You could feel the emotion bouncing off the walls. Throughout the night, Dean’s bond with his fans was front and center. Whether it was making direct eye contact, waving mid-song, or forming a heart with his hands in a sweet, emoji-like gesture, he made every person in the venue feel seen. His “I love you’s” weren’t just part of the act; they felt personal, like he truly meant it every time he said it to a fan.

One thing you can’t miss at a Dean Lewis show is the intensity of his performance. He plays his guitar so hard that the paint has worn away where he strums, and he’s even carved into the wood on one of them. It’s not just passion you can hear—it’s something you can literally see.

The set moved effortlessly between emotional ballads and more upbeat, rocking moments. “Memories” was a standout. Dean and his guitarist Dan took it into heavier, almost jam-session territory, and the response was deafening. Dan, by the way, used to play for One Direction, and his chemistry with Dean onstage was infectious. At one point, Dean moved closer to the crowd, triggering Beatles-level screams. He balanced all of this with pure humility, cracking jokes and never taking himself too seriously.

Dean shared that visa issues had kept his original band from joining the tour that night, so the musicians on stage had learned his full set in just 24 hours. You’d never know it—they were tight, passionate, and completely locked in. Before “7 Minutes,” he told the story of two very different dates that inspired the song, giving everyone in the room a laugh and a moment to reflect.

Dean’s sense of humor especially shined before “Cold,” when he joked about being “the depressed singer-songwriter” and roasted the crowd’s lack of happy couples, finishing with a sarcastic but affectionate “Go fuck yourself” to all the lucky ones. It was moments like this, blending self-deprecating humor with raw honesty, that let his personality truly shine.

Later in the night, Dean paused before “Hurtless” to take in the crowd’s signs and asked everyone to light up the room with their phones. During “Stay Awake,” he bounced between piano and guitar with ease, tossing in a few jokes about American accents along the way. When he played “I Hate That It’s True,” which had just dropped that day, the crowd already knew every lyric, and the sing-along was so loud it gave you chills.

He opened up about “With You,” a song he originally wrote for Rihanna. Though it was meant for her, things didn’t work out, and he seemed genuinely thrilled to have the chance to reclaim and release it himself. It was a rare, emotional glimpse behind the curtain of an often unpredictable industry.

Perhaps the most intimate moment of the night came when Dean left the main stage to perform “Half a Man” and “Last Bit of Us” among the fans in the back. Sitting at a small keyboard setup, he made sure to sing to the fans standing behind him—again underlining his deep respect for the people who support his music.

Dean returned to the main stage to perform “Waves” and the raw “All Your Lies.” He then invited Henry Moodie back out for a duet of the Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris,” and the two voices blended beautifully. He ended the main set with “How Do I Say Goodbye,” his emotional tribute to his father. After the crowd begged for more, he returned for a final encore of “Be Alright,” wrapped in an American flag as Dan delivered a soaring solo that brought the night to its emotional peak.

Dean Lewis didn’t just sing to a crowd at The Stone Pony—he created a shared experience full of laughter, stories, and soul-baring emotion. It’s nights like these that remind you why live music means so much.

Setlist:
Empire
Hold of Me
Memories
7 Minutes
All I Ever Wanted
Cold
Hurtless
Chemicals
Stay Awake
I Hate That It’s True
With You
Drum solo
That’s So True (Gracie) (with solo)
Dan solo
B-stage:
Half a Man (solo)
Last Bit of Us (Sam)
Main stage:
Waves
All Your Lies
Iris (with Henry Moodie)
How Do I Say Goodbye
Encore:
Be Alright

See photos of Dean Lewis below:

See photos of Henry Moodie below: