Decked out in Minions-themed attire, long flowy skirts, and Doc Martens, Faye Webster fans flooded the gates at The Stage At Suffolk Downs in Boston on July 27th for Webster’s Underdressed at the Symphony tour. Waiting to purchase merchandise and munching on hot dogs, fans eagerly awaited the start of the show. The recipe for a perfect summer evening: A buttery pretzel, a picnic blanket, and a large outdoor venue paired with Webster’s mellow, lighthearted discography.
Singer-songwriter Faye Webster first gained attention from indie-pop fans in 2019 after releasing her sophomore album, Atlanta Millionaire’s Club. Multiple songs on the album went TikTok viral and began climbing the charts, most notably “Right Side of My Neck.” Webster’s next project was a one-off collaboration with the band COIN, and in 2021 she came out with a third album, titled I Know I’m Funny haha. Webster toured the album in 2021, and in 2022 she released an EP consisting of reimaginations of previous tracks, titled Car Therapy Sessions. Her most recent album Underdressed at the Symphony, which she is currently touring, notably included a collaborative track with Lil Yachty, “Lego Ring.” Webster’s experimental and melancholic yet unexpectedly upbeat style is refreshing and purifying, and emblematic of a breezy summer night.
A sold-out crowd of over 3,000 fans roared as Webster appeared onstage wearing a sensible blue and white striped set and a smile. Energy remained high as Webster performed “But Not Kiss,” “Wanna Quit All the Time,” and “Thinking About You” from her most recent album. The Internet-famous first chord of “Right Side of My Neck” flooded the field as the crowd shrieked and cheered. Machines on both sides of the stage shot out bubbles as Webster sang the viral lines: “You looked back at me once,” — she stuck the mic out to the crowd, which shouted back to her — “but I looked back two times.” Webster’s grin widened as she delved into the chorus, and fans sang along for the song’s duration.
To follow, Webster performed four songs on I Know I’m Funny haha, including fan-favorite “A Dream with a Baseball Player.” Addressing the crowd for the first time in the evening, Webster said earnestly, “Thank you so much for being here tonight. Truly, thank you so much for coming.” Next, Webster performed “Lego Ring,” her band each taking solos during Lil Yachty’s verse. Just when the crowd’s energy seemed to reach its height, Webster and the band descended into another beloved ballad off her album Atlanta Millionaire’s Club, “Johnny.” Webster stuck her mic out to the audience once again to sing almost the entire second verse, and they certainly pulled through, shouting every line.
The set, which resembled a laundromat, included racks of hung-up blue and white plain t-shirts along with rows of washing machines that glowed with the stage lights. A singular giant white t-shirt hung above the stage, with projected psychedelic visuals to accompany each song. As Webster transitioned into “Johnny (Reprise)” a spoken poem, the crowd was taken by a performance so dramatic and emotional it became interactive. As planes flew low over the stage, fans spoke along with Webster, “This wasn’t supposed to be a love song, but I guess it is now…” And Webster whined, “Isn’t it?” She tossed her hair around in true theatrical fashion, before closing: “Why couldn’t you be ready too? Goodbye, Johnny.” Suddenly, the washing machine lights began to change colors rapidly and the band seemed to go rogue, playing discordantly. After moments of chaos, a blackout, and silence.
Webster took to the keyboard to perform “Lifetime,” after which she noticed a fan whose birthday it was. “Is it your birthday too?” She asked another. “No? You were jumping, but… Oh well. Hi!” The crowd laughed as Webster shouted excitedly, “My parents are here tonight!” Which came with another roar of applause. Next, Webster descended into a joyful performance of “He Loves Me Yeah!” Webster used female pronouns for the song, sending fans — especially those deeply invested in her public relationship with artist Deb Never — into a gleeful frenzy.
Webster left the stage for a few moments before being cheered back on. Returning to the keys for an encore, joined by a fellow band member, Webster told the crowd, “This is my best friend, Nunu.” The two sang “Feeling Good Today,” and Webster closed with a solo performance of “Kingston.” Arguably the most viral Faye Webster concert moment is when Webster sings, “He said, ‘Baby,’” — the crowd joins her thunderously — “That’s what he called me, ‘I love you.’” Even when Webster fumbled a few lyrics — comically during the line “Makes me feel some type of way, forget what I was gonna say” — the crowd sang them back to her.
Faye Webster’s audience is undeniably electric and loyal. Although many viral artists’ fans only know some of the lyrics to their most popular songs, Webster’s fanbase is certainly an exception to the stereotype. The crowd at Suffolk Downs sang along to every line, whether they were sprawled on a towel at the back of the field or pressed up against the barricade.
The Underdressed at the Symphony tour will continue through the fall in America and Canada, and once the album cycle ends, fans are eager to see what Webster is cooking up next.
For tickets, visit https://www.fayewebster.com/
