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Donning a sparkly black blazer and a messy hairstyle, mehro took the stage with just his guitar while the crowd broke into cheers. The LA-based singer-songwriter and producer, opened for Claire Rosinkranz alongside DWLLRS on Feb. 8 at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club. The line outside of the venue extended far beyond the front of the club, and by the time mehro came on stage there was a full house.
Despite opening for Rosinkranz, mehro greeted a sizable audience of his own fans. The alt-indie artist performed “pirate song,” the third track on his upcoming album “Dark Corners and Alchemy,” set to release on Mar. 23. With a sea shanty-esque swing, strong bass, and lyrics like “are you ready / to let me in,” “pirate song” was the perfect opener.
Mehro’s fan interactions undeniably heightened the intimate vibe throughout the duration of the concert. At one point he paused to tell the story behind his song “hideous.” With fans reacting to every line, he described a complicated romantic situation that led to heartbreak. His candid storytelling paired with the audience’s interaction made the moment feel like a conversation with a friend.
“The most important part of my life I’d say are the meaningful relationships with people where the time that you put in is well worth the emotion that you feel, the love that you feel, the connection that you feel with that person,” the artist told his fans.
Mehro expressed the deep, sharp pain that came from a prospective partner rejecting his emotions with his performance of “hideous.” His longing, soulful vocals combined with reflective lyrics effectively capture the feeling of insecurity he felt during his heartbreak.
He opened his next song, “whore,” with the lyrics; “We’ve all been used before / Nobody’s clean / I’ll love you anyway.” With a gentler, more mellow feel, mehro showcased elements of lo-fi-bedroom pop with the lyrically and melodically repetitive chorus. Despite his sparkly attire, mehro kept much of his performance understated and intimate while simultaneously sustaining an excited energy. He closed the night out with “chance with you,” leaving fans with one last taste of his sensuous, falsetto vocals and poetic lyrics. The song, which is about the regret of failing to approach a love interest, ended the concert full circle, returning to the theme of unrequited love and admiration present throughout mehro’s discography.
Mehro’s warm and energetic performance definitely left a strong impression on new fans. It’s safe to say the “innocently intimidating” artist is one to watch.