About Last night : Braden in Brooklyn
Let's set the scene; the last day of winter in Williamsburg, and for what could only have been several hours in line, you were waiting to see your most played artist of the year live on the legendary venue Baby's All Right. This was a dream turned into reality for everyone waiting for the doors to open for the first show of Braden Bales Live! Tour in the USA. Braden did not keep them waiting for long as he strolled outside for a little before the show to interact with fans, take pictures, and appear on one fan's vlog. Not long after, the line began moving along, and quickly they would be listening to some of their favorites songs live.
As the floor started to disappear right beneath the feet of the fans in the jam-packed room, the excitement brewed while they waited for Braden to hit the stage. The lights dim on a sold out crowd and a mysterious person appears on the stage. Under the spotlight, he sings the Canadian national anthem to remind the audience where Braden was from. After the anthem, Braden took the stage in a black-and-gold robe as if he were a boxer being announced as he walked into the ring for a fight.
Crowd participation started pretty quick as by the second song everyone was singing along to the chorus of “HOSTAGE”, a single and the first song on his 2023 EP CATALYST. From there, the energy had spiked, and by the third song, Bales had ripped off his shirt to a wild applause. Braden kept it unpredictable throughout the night, mocking an unresponsive fan after giving them the mic, before handing it off to someone who was ready to sing. Asking the audience what he should call out to decide when to start and stop songs, choosing the word “basil”. Then, perhaps the most intimate moment of all, he sang the first part of a song completely unamplified, relying on the crowd's silence to carry his voice.
The electrifying atmosphere left room for engagement as well. He passed around a disposable camera, invited a fan onstage to perform with him for a song, and orchestrated a full room singalong for the unreleased“You Lied”. At one point, he acknowledged a fan who was holding up a small sign, saying his music has become a safe space for his fans—what seemed to be commonly felt through the crowd. Bales had a shining moment when he had brought out his friend, who also happened to be the opening act Ezra, who Bales stated had helped him through some hard times while living in Los Angeles. That bond translated into the crowd, especially when fans started going wild during the joint performance of their song together “Glass House”. Braden even jumped into the crowd to enjoy the energy of the song with his fans.
Things were intense when Bales hit his biggest track with the crowd, “Chronically Conscious”. Not a single person in the crowd missed a beat, whilst going bar for bar with Braden. This song was followed by an interactive song, altering lyrics to make it special for Brooklyn, which was warmly welcomed by the crowd with woos and whistles. Cellphone lights around the room and one last leap into the crowd, the show left the feeling of chaos, healing, and intimacy . For a packed room at Baby's, Braden Bales didn't play a show, but created a memorable experience for those who had witnessed.
