It didn’t take long before fans started flinging bras (and boxers) at Jessie Reyez, who was back in Boston for her Paid in Memories tour. Maybe it was her impressive vocals. Maybe it was the deliberately inclusive and safe space she created. Maybe it was the fact that she leaned into authenticity in many forms; instead of inserting synthetic interludes, Reyez had fans sing, a homemade soundtrack for her her descent down the stairs of her two-story stage. She made a point to interact with fans, whether waving to crowd members in the balcony, stepping down to hold the hands of those in the front rows, or giving those beyond her reach the feeling of standing next thanks to the close-up shots of the onstage camera crew. She made a point to sing in her native tongue (a beautiful performance of “Con el Viento“) and added context to songs like “Imported,” reminding the audience of the realities of immigrants in today’s oppressive political environment before leading a f*ck ICE chant.
Highlights included a joyful dance interlude with her dad, a “Love on the Brain” cover slipped into “**JEANS**” and an intimate rendition of “Figures” on acoustic guitar. By the end, Reyez had collected nearly a dozen undergarments onstage from her adoring fans, and her mic stand looked more like some kind of artistic sculpture at a lingerie store than basic concert equipment.
