Photo by Muriel Margaret
Michael O'Shea | February 24th 2025
FINNEAS brought nothing less than excellent production quality and stunning vocals to the fourth US stop of his For Crying Out Loud!: The Tour at the Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. His dedicated fans sold out the show on Tuesday and it was clear they didn’t come to play.
Indie rock band Bad Suns opened for FINNEAS with an energy that almost made me forget they weren’t a headline act. Lead vocalist and guitarist Christo Bowman commanded the audience’s attention through a set that included a cover of Lovefool by The Cardigans.
When it was time for FINNEAS, the crowd went wild as he opened his set with a piano rendition of Starfucker under a lone spotlight. It was clear immediately that everyone in the venue knew every lyric. The following Lotus Eater and Cleats felt mellow and laidback, beginning a setlist with an impressive range that spanned energetic dance and slow acoustic songs.
FINNEAS delivered charming stage banter and attention that reached the whole crowd, including the balcony level. Singing individually to his fans, telling people he loved them, and responding to people’s posters, he made sure to include everyone in the room and make them feel welcome. His energy was infectious, frequently dancing around the stage and dipping his mic stand.
Continuing the set, he danced his way through some of the more upbeat songs from the album, including Sweet Cherries and What’s It Gonna Take To Break Your Heart? The latter included an intense drum solo by Miles Morris, drummer for both Bad Suns and FINNEAS. The audience couldn’t help but dance and shout.
A common theme throughout the show was the phenomenal lighting design. With every song came a fresh lighting scheme that complemented and amplified the vibe. Purple and gold accompanied FINNEAS’s acoustic guitar on Partners in Crime, and green strobing lights in Mona Lisa, Mona Lisa. The more vulnerable and stripped-back “Little Window” saw him in a spotlight with ambient fill lights behind.
A highlight of the night was FINNEAS’s rendition of Till Forever Falls Apart, a song originally by Ashe that he’s featured on. If anyone didn’t know the words to any previous songs, they chimed in for this one. The audience reactions were louder and more excited than ever. Everyone continued to sing along for the end of the set, which saw some of the more sentimental songs of the night, such as Family Feud, which he wrote about his sister, Billie Eilish. All of this led up to For Cryin’ Out Loud! as the closer.
FINNEAS proves himself to be an artist worth watching. His clear vocals deliver raw emotion and move an audience. Many know him for his work with his sister, but he’s doing great things with his solo career. For Cryin’ Out Loud!: The Tour is a breath of fresh air this winter.
