Stephen Sanchez Delivers Pleasant Nostalgia to Boston’s Roadrunner Theater [Photos]

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to attend an Elvis Presley concert, then you might want to check out Stephen Sanchez live. On Friday, December 1st, Sanchez performed at RoadRunner Theater in Boston. This was the 24th show on his U.S. tour with his band, The Moon Crests.

From the opening of “Something About Her,” it was clear this man knew how to work a crowd. It was also clear that his vocals were just as impressive live as they were on recordings. Having recently turned 21 years old, the release of his first full-length album, Angel Face, is a testament to his ability to lean into the style of the 1950s and 1960s. At the same time, he can still make his music relatable to the current Gen-Z generation.

Advertised as “The best 1950s concert since the 1950s.” Sanchez makes sure to live up to this not only with his vocals but also with his stage presence. Dressed and styled with a collared shirt, black pants, and his hair slicked back, Sanchez was all about the hip swivelling, pelvic thrusting and leg-shaking dance moves that had girls in the audience visibly swooning over him. Seeing him on stage felt like a glimpse into the past of a young Elvis Presley.

Sanchez’s debut album and live concert tells the story of a young singer, or “troubadour,” as Sanchez refers to him. Living in the late 1950s, he falls into a forbidden love with the girlfriend of a mob boss who owns the local venue where the troubadour performs. By listening to the album, listeners are transported to a different world and captivated by the story of the “Troubadour Sanchez” in his quest for love and his untimely death.

The same goes for Sanchez in concert. At different points throughout the show, Sanchez would pause for a moment to describe what was happening and the part of the story he was about to sing about. It’s clear that the audience loved this and played into the theme and timeline of the narrative. Many women dressed in typical 1950s and 1960s fashion, complete with poodle skirts, fancy dresses, and white bobby socks.

The only unfortunate part of the show was that Sanchez was ill. As a result, he cut three songs from the setlist. He apologized to the audience and actually ended up cancelling his show two days later, on December 3rd, at MASS Moca due to his voice being “completely thrashed.”

Despite being sick, Sanchez managed to close the show on a high note. He went into his most famous track, “Until I Found You,” which catapulted him to stardom in 2021. This beautiful love song and ballad was what first brought Sanchez into the mainstream after going viral on TikTok. Every person in the audience was singing along, and it was one of my favourite moments from the whole show.

Overall, I was blown away by Sanchez’s vocals and stage presence. The attention to detail was much appreciated. Hee and his team tailored everything from the outfits to the lighting to fit the 1950s vibe. It really made the whole experience that much more memorable and unique. This being only Sanchez’s debut album and first headlining tour, it’s clear he’s got a bright future ahead. I look forward to watching it unfold!

Following Sanchez and his band via the official site: www.stephensanchezofficial.com.

Stephen Sanchez @ Roadrunner (Boston, MA) on December 1, 2023

21 photos