The Celtics, Shaboozey, and Benson Boone all understand that success is even sweeter with a crowd!
As Boston’s basketball team celebrated their historic 18th championship with a banner-raising ceremony at TD Garden on Tuesday, Shaboozey energized the crowd with a free performance at City Hall Plaza. His set kicked off and closed with his hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
Shaboozey’s performance was part of the “NBA on TNT American Express Road Show,” a free event marking the start of the 2024-25 NBA season. Celtics fans who weren’t at TD Garden to see the team take on—and defeat—the New York Knicks gathered at City Hall Plaza to watch the game’s livestream and enjoy performances from Shaboozey and Benson Boone, who helped celebrate the team’s status as reigning NBA champions. Both artists are also enjoying their own moments of triumph this year. Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 15 consecutive weeks, while Boone has rapidly gained international fame with his uplifting hit “Beautiful Things.” Tuesday’s event felt like a shared celebration of victory for both the Celtics and the performers, though the crowd was undoubtedly there for their hometown team.
Shaboozey’s set acted as a lively warm-up, with energetic tracks like “Last of My Kind” stirring the crowd. In addition to performing his smash hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” twice, he played other hard-hitting country songs like “Drink Don’t Need No Mix” and “Tall Boy.” The energy dipped during more mellow songs like “Vegas” and “Highway,” but the second rendition of his chart-topping single brought the audience back to life for the finale of his 25-minute performance.
By the time Benson Boone took the stage after 10 p.m., the Celtics had already secured their first win of the season. His emotionally-charged set, full of theatrical pop-rock, helped fans celebrate the team’s triumph. From the soothing “Slow It Down” to the heartfelt ballad “In The Stars,” Boone kept the momentum going, despite fans being eager for his signature backflips and his hit “Beautiful Things.” Though he performed fewer flips than usual due to the slick stage, Boone still delivered an impressive finale, getting the crowd to sing along to “Beautiful Things” after a quieter moment earlier in the set.
While the night was primarily about basketball, keeping Celtics fans engaged long after the team’s opening win was no small feat, making the evening a victory for the performers as well.
Featured Photo Credit: Amelia Cordischi
