XFINITY CENTER - MANSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS
September 01, 2018 Written with Live Images by Zack Tremblay | Promo Image by Jiro Schneider
The story of Pentatonix is truly one of a kind. In a world full of mainstream Top 40 music, Pentatonix has broken the barriers of how successful you can truly be when you remain authentic to yourself. The three-time Grammy Award winning group has proven their worth in the industry and has created an extended family of fans, selling over 10 million albums worldwide. These five incredibly talented humans have quite the extraordinary journey. Scott, Mitch, Kirstin, Kevin and their newest addition Matt, have created an unbelievable show and have set the bar extremely high for future of acapella groups.
When Pentatonix revealed they would be heading out on the road this summer, I was thrilled. I knew that this was definitely a tour I needed to witness for myself. As if I needed any more motivation to go, it was announced that Calum Scott and Echosmith would be joining PTX on this three-month long tour. For those who know me, you know how much I love all three of these incredible performers. I recently discovered Calum Scott this year by stumbling across his Britain’s Got Talent audition. I was completely blown away by Calum’s vocal ability, while expressing such raw emotion through his performance. Calum did not shy away from that same raw talent I fell in love with from the very beginning. The ‘Only Human’ singer plays a selection of piano ballads, offering a vulnerable, uplifting set, performing tracks from his debut album. There is something extremely honest about Calum’s presence on stage and I couldn’t think of a better artist to kick off this show. Once Calum wrapped, Echosmith took the stage for a show-stopping selection of their biggest hits including their latest single “Over My Head”, “Bright” and of course their breakout smash, a personal favorite of mine, “Cool Kids”. I had the chance to catch up with Sydney, Noah and Graham backstage before the show and they admit how fun this tour has been for them. Echosmith was that necessary hype needed to pump up the crowd and get them ready for the unbelievable night that Pentatonix had planned ahead.
After a brief intermission, a large white curtain fell from the top of the venue covering the stage completely. The house lights blacked out and a roar of screams filled the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts. It was time. Fog fills the stage as five rays of light shine behind Scott, Mitch, Kirstin, Kevin and Matt - the fans absolutely loose their mind. The acapella superstars kicked off their set with a track from their original album, “Sing”. Over the years people have become quite critical when it comes to live performers. PTX did not miss a note as they soared through a selection of originals, covers and fan-favorite mash ups.
The best part about this tour is the element of storytelling. Throughout the night the audience had the opportunity to hear from each member as they shared their very first memories of the group. One of the best came from Matt, the newest addition to Pentatonix. Matt shared a story of how he watched Pentatonix perform years ago. Having the opportunity to join the group years later was a dream come true for the Texas native. This show in Massachusetts was extremely special for Matt considering he is a Berklee College of Music alum. Moments like this don’t happen very often and you can tell how grateful Matt was to be welcomed with open arms.
While all five of these incredible vocalist showcased their undeniable abilities, nothing prepared me for the grand finale of this show which consisted of PTX’s rendition of “Sorry Not Sorry” by Demi Lovato. This shining moment belongs to MITCH GRASSI. There are notes that boy can hit, I did not think were humanly possible. As Grassi hits the highest note of the night, a group of five confetti cannons shower the audience, leaving them wanting more. The group did just that and offered one more legendary moment - a cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, leading the audience into the biggest sing-along.
I am beyond grateful to have experienced a tour like this in person. Pentatonix have went above and beyond to deliver one of the most entertaining shows on 2018. There are still a selection of dates left through mid-September. I highly suggest you head on over to ptxofficial.com to see if they are stopping in a city near you. For those who need your daily fix of Pentatonix, check out PTX Presents: Top Pop, Vol. 1, available now on all streaming services.
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V I S I T P T X ' S W E B S I T E
B U Y / S T R E A M T O P P O P , V O L . 1