ST. PAUL, Minn. – Of course it startedwith a flip. And pyro. And a blanket of dry ice. And frenetic lights. In the center of it wasBenson Boone, strutting in a fitted white outfit outlined in red and blue, pointing like he meant it while digging into the energy of "I Wanna Be the One You Call." Boone christened hisAmerican Heart Tour with a 22-song setlistAug. 22 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, ready to prove his pop bona fides with patented acrobatics, an arsenal of songs laced with vulnerability and glistening triceps. Friday night's sold-out concert was the start of a 33-date North American run –Boone's first all-arena tour– that willland in major citiesincluding Boston, New York, Miami, Denver, Las Vegas and Seattle before winding down with three sold-out shows in Salt Lake City in October. 85551515007 ThoughBoonehas only released two full-length albums – 2024's "Fireworks & Rollerblades" and the current "American Heart" – Boone has emerged from the Pacific Northwest as both a sex symbol and respected artist for the hordes of Gen Z fans packing the venue. So yes, there issomething magneticabout this unconventional 23-year-old who flips hearts – and himself – with charm and swagger. He's confident, able to command the runway during the grabby chorus of "Be Someone" and thanking the crowd profusely before a robust singalong of his breakthrough smash, "Beautiful Things," toward the close of his nearly two-hour show. Boone's retro look– the '70s-era 'stache, the attire best classified as gas-attendant-chic, the almost-monobrow – extends to his music as well. His slow sky ride on a blue chandelier that bobbed uncomfortably high during "Mystical Magical" was as much a visual squeal-a-thon as a chance to appreciate the sprightly tune for its acknowledged nod tovintage pop. During "Mr. Electric Blue," an homage to his father as well as the most robust songon his new album, Boone grinned and played air guitar as he skipped up a tilted ramp to his mirrored piano. His hands weren't quite as fleeting, but his demeanor and flashy ab-baring attire evoked a young Elton John banging out a melody. Boone also takes some vocal cues fromQueen'sFreddie Mercury, smearing his multi-octave voice across the chest-heaving "Man in Me" and the tender piano ballad "In the Stars," sung atop a blue piano at the base of a catwalk extending the length of the arena floor. "At some point in all of your lives, this song will mean something to you," Boone told the crowd, sounding like a school counselor as he talked about loss (the song was written for his late great-grandmother). The bold stage design of Boone's show allows for maximum athleticism, with red lacquered stairs lining the sides of a circular stage and hydraulic platforms providing the launch pads for the frequent airborne antics that must make his insurance company weep. There is no arguing Boone'sinnate showmanship, spotlighted during "Young American Heart" as red, white and blue paper hearts dropped from the ceiling as well as every time he leaned into the crowd to smack hands, accept a hat from a fan or wave with gusto. But his ballad-heavy leanings, including the obviously well-intentioned "Momma Song" and slow burners "Drunk in My Mind" and "Love of Mine," follow a similar cadence that can disrupt pacing despite their emotional openness. WhenBooneand his four-piece band are swinging through "There She Goes" or side-stepping down the catwalk to "Sugar Sweet," the dynamism is dialed to 11 and his potential as a long-hauler is evident. Boone might not be musically revolutionary, but he's a solid representative for heartfelt pop. Let's hope he continues to stick the landing. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Benson Boone American Heart tour lands a perfect 10
